The inhibitory effects of garlic and Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 on the genotoxicity, biochemical, and histological changes induced by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in male rats

Arch Toxicol. 2008 Mar;82(3):183-95. doi: 10.1007/s00204-007-0237-y. Epub 2007 Sep 14.

Abstract

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is widely used in food and other industries to sequester metal ions and to prevent their disadvantageous effects. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the protective effect of Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 (ginsenoside Rg3 content was 3.6% w/w, i.e., 36 microg/mg P. ginseng extract) and garlic against EDTA-induced biochemical, genotoxic, and histological changes in rats. Forty male rats were divided into eight treatment groups and treated for 7 days as follows: the control group, the group treated with EDTA (20 mg/kg b.w) and the groups treated with P. ginseng extract (20 mg/kg b.w), garlic (5 mg/kg b.w), P. ginseng plus garlic alone or in combination with EDTA. In vivo bone marrow micronucleus test and random amplified polymorphism DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) method were performed to assess the antigenotoxic effect of both protective agents. The results indicated that EDTA administration caused a significant decrease in the serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes activity. The administration also increased lipid peroxidation and the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs), caused appearance of some changes in polymorphism band patterns, and induced different histopathological lesions in the livers, kidneys, and testis. Treatment with P. ginseng, garlic alone or plus EDTA significantly improved all the tested parameters. Moreover, P. ginseng extract was found to be more effective than garlic in restoring the parameters that were altered by EDTA.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimutagenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Chemoprevention
  • Edetic Acid / toxicity*
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Garlic / chemistry*
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology*
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / drug effects*
  • Micronucleus Tests
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
  • Rats
  • Testis / drug effects
  • Testis / pathology

Substances

  • Antimutagenic Agents
  • Ginsenosides
  • Plant Extracts
  • ginsenoside Rb3
  • Edetic Acid
  • Oxidoreductases