Garlic Bulb Essential Oil (GBEO) as a Potential Mitigator of Lead Nitrate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Swiss Albino Male Mice

Abstract

This research examined the effectiveness of essential oil derived from garlic bulb in alleviating the toxic effects of lead nitrate in animal model Swiss albino mice. Six groups were considered for the study, Group I was untreated and Group II to Group VI animals were given lead nitrate at the dose of 50 mg/kg orally for 30 days. Group III and Group IV received low dose (50 mg/kg), high dose (80 mg/kg) of GBEO, and Group V was given standard drug (Silymarin) respectively, lastly Group VI was given olive oil to see its effect alone, from the 12th day until the experiment’s conclusion. To assess GBEO protective effects, various antioxidant parameters, including Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity, Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) activity, Glutathione (GSH) levels, Activity of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT) activity, and levels of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) were evaluated in Swiss albino mice testicular homogenate. The results revealed that GBEO, particularly the high dose, significantly mitigated lead-induced oxidative stress. This was evidenced by improvements in antioxidant enzyme potencies and preserved GSH levels. These findings indicate that GBEO holds a promising prophylactic treatment for lead poisoning. However, further studies are warranted to optimize the dosing regimen for maximizing its protective efficacy against lead toxicity.