Asian Hematology Research Journal

Though concerns over the safety of medicinal drugs are following rife consumption of some herbal preparations, the underlying pathogenesis remains however cryptic. Awareness of the far-reaching effects of herbal preparations is germane to their continued use in traditional medicine. This study investigated in Wistar rats [fed with Allium sativum (garlic)], the status of their thrombogenic indices due to oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride.  Thirty (30) Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups of six animals each (n = 6): G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5. While G1 (normal control) received 1 ml/kg of groundnut oil, G2 (negative control) received a single dose of 1 ml/kg of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) for 2 weeks. G3 and G4 respectively got 250 and 500 mg/kg of Allium sativum extract twice daily for 2 weeks and then treated with a single dose of 1ml/kg CCl₄. G5 received 150 mg/kg of Vitamin E twice daily for 2 weeks and then treated with a single dose of 1 ml/ kg of CCL₄ to induce oxidative stress. The rats were then euthanized with blood samples collected for haematological analysis. Selected organs were also harvested and observed for histomorphological changes. Evaluation of data for statistical significance was done, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). While kidney had some loss of nuclei, increased cytoplasmic eosinophilia, and congested blood vessel, hepatocytes showed some round to oval nuclei interspersed with sinusoids. Also, though garlic administration did not alter blood calcium concentration, it caused a decreased globulin but increased platelets, fibrinogen, bleeding and clotting time. Garlic in this study, therefore, was seen to be associated with a favourable dose-dependence improvement and maintenance of thrombogenic indices.