Garlic (Allium sativum) attenuate glomerular glycation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: A possible role of insulin.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of fresh garlic aqueous extract on glomerular glycation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Method: Serum insulin and glucose, in addition to renal corpuscles and erythrocyte hemoglobin glycation were determined in normal saline-treated normal rats (NS-NR), normal saline-treated diabetic rats (NS-DR) and garlic-treated diabetic rats (G-DR).

Results: Compared to NS-NR, NS-DR showed significant decrease in serum insulin and increase in serum glucose and hemoglobin glycation. NS-DR also showed intense, diffused glomerular periodic acid Schiff activity. Compared to NS-DR, G-DR showed significant increase in serum insulin and decrease in serum glucose and hemoglobin glycation. Furthermore, the G-DR glomerular periodic acid Schiff activity and distribution was almost restored to that observed in NS-NR.

Conclusion: Garlic may attenuate glomerular glycation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. This effect could be partially mediated via euglycemia induced by revitalization of endogenous insulin.