Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is associated with biochemical, physiological, and pathologic alterations in the liver. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of garlic juice on changes in the structure of rat liver and serum activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases after streptozotocin injection. Materials and Methods: Forty rats were divided into five groups of 8 rats each: a) Normal group (N), b) Normal+Garlic group (N+G) received 1 ml of garlic juice/100g BW/day for 6 weeks, c) Diabetic group (D) was injected with streptozotocin (60mg/kg BW, i.p.), d) Diabetic+Garlic_before group (D+Gb) received garlic juice for 3 weeks before STZ injection and continued for another 3 weeks, e) Diabetic+Garlic_after group (D+Ga) received garlic juice for 3 weeks after being injected with STZ. Hepatic histological changes were assessed with hematoxylin-eosine staining using a light microscope. Results: In diabetic rats, the activities of serum ALT and AST were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared to other groups. In D+Gb and D+Ga rats the activity of serum ALT was significantly decreased compared to the D group. The activity of serum AST in D+Gb group had no significant difference with the N and N+G groups and was significantly decreased compared to the D group. In the D group, separated necrosis of hepatocytes, anarchism of liver plates, and lymphocytic inflammation were observed in the D+Gb and D+Ga groups compared to the D group, all of previous signs improved. Conclusion: Garlic juice was found to influence changes of aminotransferases and prevent the histopathological changes of liver associated with STZ diabetes in rats.