Effects of aqueous garlic (Allium sativum) extract against di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced cytotoxicity in peripheral blood and liver of adult female mice

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of most commonly used plasticizer Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in the peripheral blood and liver of adult female mice, and protective effect of a commonly used spice ( Allium sativum ) against DEHP induced pathology. Animals were treated with aqueous garlic extract, DEHP, and DEHP+Garlic extract (aqueous) at dosage of 500 mg/kg body weight each (intra-gastric treatment) (n=10) for 28 days. DEHP treatment resulted in a significant decline in mean body weight while a significant increase in the mean liver weight was noticed as compared to the control group. Results indicated various liver histopathologies in DEHP exposed animals including sinusoid dilation, deshaped hepatic parenchyma cells with nuclear anomalies, and increased number of inflammatory cells. A significant increase in average cross-sectional area (ACSA) of the central vein and number of mononucleated, binucleated, and oval cells was noticed in the DEHP group as compared to the garlic group. A significant increase in cellular diameter of hepatocytes in DEHP and DEHP+Garlic group was also observed. Aqueous garlic extract treatment significantly ameliorated the DEHP-induced histopathological and micrometric alterations in the DEHP+Garlic group. Serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels were significantly decreased in the DEHP+Garlic group as compared to the DEHP group. DEHP treatment caused different nuclear anomalies in the white blood cells of female mice, however, no significant signs of recovery were observed by the aqueous garlic extract treatment. The results showed that DEHP is highly toxic to the female mice’s liver, and garlic extract could potentially protect and rescue DEHP-induced liver damage in the female mice.