Protective Effect of Allium sativum Extract Against Cadmium Oxide in Male Swiss Albino Mice: Hematological and Biochemical Responses

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Allium sativum (garlic) extract against acute cadmium oxide (CdO) toxicity in male Swiss albino mice. Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into four groups (N = 6): control, garlic extract, CdO, and CdO + garlic extract. The 300 mg/kg garlic extract, 1.5 mg/kg CdO, and a combination of 1.5 mg/kg/day CdO + 300 mg/kg/garlic extract were administered to mice by oral gavage for 96 h. Hematological indices (hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets (PLT)); serum metabolites, ions, and enzyme activities, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipase (LP), and cholinesterase (ChE), were measured. Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+/K+-ATPase) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, as well as Cd accumulation, were measured in liver, kidney, and brain tissues. Cd accumulation decreased in the combination group compared with the CdO group in the liver and kidney tissues. CdO exposure caused marked alterations in hematological indices, serum metabolites, ions, and enzyme activities, whereas the combination with garlic extract generally reduced the magnitude of these alterations. In most hematological and biochemical parameters, values were higher in mice exposed to CdO than in mice receiving the CdO–garlic extract combination. CdO exposure significantly reduced Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the liver and kidney, while the combination group remained significantly lower than the control in the kidney. AChE activity was significantly reduced in the brain in the CdO and combination groups compared with the control, whereas renal AChE activity increased following CdO exposure. Garlic extract alone did not significantly alter most of the evaluated parameters, although it significantly reduced serum triglyceride levels. This study demonstrated a partial ameliorative effect of Allium sativum extract against CdO toxicity, particularly by reducing Cd accumulation and attenuating selected hematological, ionic, enzymatic, and metabolic alterations.