effect of garlic (allium sativum) oil on

7/25/2019 Effect of Garlic (Allium Sativum) Oil On

1/4

ndian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 49 (1) : 115118

*Corresponding author and address : 28, Shivaji Nagar, Udaipur 313 001 (Rajasthan); Phone: (0294) 248482485713; E-mail : [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Garlic (A ll ium sativum) has been found

to have a wide range of medicinal properties

ranging from antibacterial to anticancer

effects (1, 2). I t has hypoli pidemic (3),

antithrombotic (4) and anti-atherosclerotic

(5) properties. The antistress and adaptogenic

effect of garlic have been studied in

experimental animals exposed to physical

and chemical stress (6), and on psychological

stress in man (7). Here we report the effect

of garlic oil on physical endurance and

adaptability in patients with coronary artery

disease (CA D).

METHODS

A fter approval from institutio

ethical committee the study was conduc

on thirty male patients between

age of 5060 years who had old (>

months) healed myocardial infarcti

They were stable in their sympto

and receiving 150 mg of aspirin da

and isosorbide dinitrate whene

required. Smokers and patients suffer

from diabetes, hypertension, chro

obstructive lung disease and periphe

vascular insufficiency were excluded fr

the study.

SHORT COMMUNICATION

EFFECT OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) OIL ON

EXERCISE TOLERANCE IN PATIENTS WITH

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

S. K. VERMA*, RAJEEVAN V., P. JAIN AND A. BORDIA

Indigenous Drug Research Centre and Department of M edicine,

R.N.T. M edical College,

Udaipur 313 001

((((( Received on December 3, 2003Received on D ecember 3, 2003Received on December 3, 2003Received on D ecember 3, 2003Received on D ecember 3, 2003 )))))

Abstract :Abstract :Abstract :Abstract :Abstract : The effect of six weeks garlic oil administration was observed

on cardiac performance and exercise tolerance in 30 patients of coronary

artery disease. A fter initial treadmil l stress test, they were administeredgarlic oil in the dose of four capsules twice a day for 6 weeks and treadmill

stress test was repeated. Garlic significantly (P


2/4

116 Verma et al Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 4

After informed consent, each patient was

evaluated clinically to rule out other

concomitant illnesses. They were hospitalized

for 2 days prior to the test and allowed to

have normal di et. N o medications were

given during this period. On the third day

morning, they were subjected to treadmillstress test on a computerised treadmill

using Bruces protocol . They were made to

exercise till they reach the maximal possible

work load.

The patients were then admini stered

garlic oil in the form of capsules. Eight

capsules were given in two divided

doses on the same day following exercisetest and were discharged from hospital.

They were followed fortnightly to ensure

that they were taking garlic capsules

regularly. A fter 6 weeks of garli c oi l

therapy, they were again subjected to the

treadmil l stress test. Throughout the study

they were allowed to take 150 mg of aspirin

daily and isosorbic dinitrate sublingually

whenever needed.

Treatmi l l stress testT reatmi ll stress testT reatmi l l stress testT reatmi ll stress testT reatmi ll stress test :::::

Three forms of stress testing are

commonly performed, tests with standardized

external work load, tests which are

standardized by heart rate response, and

test designed to reach the maximal possible

work load. I n the present study the maximal

exercise test on treadmill was employed in

which the exercise was progressively

increased until maximal work load was

attained. The test was however discontinued

at a lower level of work if the patient

develops chest discomfort, severe shortness

of breath, dizziness, fatigue, ST segment

depression >0.2 mV (2 mm), a fall in systolic

blood pressure exceeding 10 mmHg or

development of ventricular tachyarrhythm

(8).

During stress test, heart rate and blo

pressure were monitored. Resting a

peak exercise levels of heart rate ablood pressure and total duration of exer

were determined. Cardiac work lo

was assessed in terms of double prod

which was derived from multiply

maximum heart rate by maximum syst

blood pressure. The results obtain

from two treadmill stress tests, before a

after garlic administration were compa

using students t test for paired setsdata.

Preparation of garlic oilPreparation of garlic oilPreparation of garlic oilPreparation of garlic oilPreparation of garlic oil :::::

Peeled garlic cloves were crush

extracted in ethyl acetate and the solv

evaporated. T he resulting oil was dissol

in Soy oil and this oil extract of garlic w

encapsulated. Each capsule contained ga

oil equivalent to one gm of raw garlic a

260 mg Soy oi l . F our capsules w

administered twice a day with meal.

RESULTS

Garlic oil administration for six we

resulted in a significant (P


3/4

ndian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 49(1) Garlic and Exercise Tolerance

changes also remained same at the end of

the study.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, we have observed

that administration of garlic oil has

prevented, to a certain extent, the increase

in work load on the heart during an acute

physical stress in patients with ischemic

heart disease without affecting the resting

parameters and also without altering the

basic disease process (as there was no

improvement in resting ECG changes). The

significant reduction in heart rate at peak

exercise and a decrease in double product

signifies a reduction in work load on the

heart resulting in better exercise tolerance.

In a previous study, it was shown that most

of the therapeutic benefits of garlic were

dose - dependent (9), and therefore we

selected eight capsules of garlic oil daily

which are equivalent to eight gram of r

garlic. Even in this dose for 6 weeks

side effects were observed.

The beneficial effects of garl ic dur

physical stress have been observ

in experimental animals. Garlic administration showed a definite effect

stress affected mice. I t prevented decre

in physical strength induced by physi

or chemical stress and prompted recov

from the affected condition along w

lower cortisone level (6). I t has also b

demonstrated that 7 days of garlic

administration enhances physical endura

caused by i soprenali ne. T he degree myocardial damage produced by isoprena

was also reduced signifi cantly (10). T

mechanism may be related to suppress

of the stress induced activities of

peripheral sympathetic system with

affecting adrenal medulla and pituit

adrenocortical system (11). The cortico

thereby spared which are known to enha

adaptabi l i ty. A study on hospital i nd

patients has also shown the value

garlic in psychological stress in hum

beings (7).

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) (

and Ocimumsanctum (Tulsi) (13) are ot

well known adaptogens of plant ori

described in literature. Brekhman describ

many other substances of plant origin wh

have adaptogenic properties. Panax ginse

Elecetherococcus senticoccus, Echinopa

elaum, A cantopanax sessl i torum a

Rhodiola rosea are some of them (14).

proposed that these medicines probably

at the cellular level by their antioxid

property and by their influence on

process of biosynthesis of proteins a

TA BL E I : Effect of garlic on cardiac performance andexercise tolerance in patients with CA D.

Ini tial 6 weeks after garlic (N=30) (N=30)

1. Resting heart 80.004.38 78.663.44rate (per min) P =NS

2. Resting mean 104.336.82 100.665.80blood pressure P =NS(mmHg)

3. Heart rate 165.664.32 146.509.40(per min) at P


4/4

118 Verma et al Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2005; 4

nucleic acid. Garlic is also an antioxidant

(15). The mechanism of action might be

similar.

Garlic is commonly used as food additive

and can be recommended as a dietary

supplement for long term use without toxiceffects. I t has the added advantage of having

wide range of medicinal properties in

general and therapeutic potential

patients with CA D in particular. T

present study demonstrates anot

property of garlic whereby it enhan

adaptability to stress in patient w

ischemic heart disease. I t therefore can

considered as an adaptogen and includedthe expanding list of adaptogens especi

beneficial to patients with CA D.

REFERENCES

1. Srivastava K C, Bordia A , Verma SK. Garlic (A llium

sativum) for disease prevention. South A frican J

Science 1995; 91: 6877.

2. Barness J , A nderson L A , Phil l ipson J D, eds.

Garli c. I n: Herbal medicines. 2nd ed. L ondon:

Pharmaceutical Press 2002; 226240.

3. Bordia A. Effect of garlic on blood lipids in patients

with coronary heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;

34: 21002103.

4. A li M , Thromson M. Consumption of a garlic clove

a day could be beneficial in preventing thrombosis.

Prostaglandins. L eukot Essent Fatty Acids 1995;

53: 211212.

5. Bordia A , Verma SK. Effect of garlic feeding on

regression of experimental atherosclerosis in

rabbits. Artery 1980; 7: 428437.

6. Takasugi N , K otoo K , Fuwa A , Saito H. E ffect

of garlic on mice exposed to various stresses.

Oyo Tukurl Pharmacometrics 1984; 28: 991

1002.

7. K ajiyama J . Clinical studies of Kyoleopin. J ap J

Clin Rep 1982; 16: 15151518.

8. Salwya A P, Braunwald E: I schemic heart

disease; I n: Braunwald E , Fauci A S, K asperDL , H auser SL, L ongo DL , J ameson J L

eds. H arrisons Principles of I nternal M edicine

15th ed. New Y ork : M cGraw Hill 2001; 1399

1410.

9. Bordia A , Verma SK , Srivastava K C. E ffec

garlic on platelet aggregation in human: a st

in healthy subjects and patients with coron

artery disease. Prostaglandins L eukot, E ssent FAcids 1996; 55: 201205.

10. Saxena K K , Gupta B, K ulshreshtha VK , Srivas

RK , Prasad DN. Effect of garlic pretreatmen

isoprenaline induced myocardial necrosis in al

rats. I ndian J Physiol Pharmacol 1980; 24: 2

236.

11. K vetnansky R, Takasagi N , Oprsalova Z, J ez

D, J urcovicova J , Fuwa T. N euroendocrinolog

effects of aged garlic extract in control and st

rats (A bstr. 25). F i rst Worl d Congress on

Health Significance of Garlic and Gaconstituents. Washington DC (USA) 1990.

12. Bhattacharya A. Antistress activity of sitoindes

VI I and VI I I N ew acylsteryglycosides f

Withania somnifera. Phytotherapy Res 1987

3237.

13. Bhargava K P, Singh N . A nti-stress activity

Ocimum santum Linn. Indian J Med Res 1981;

443451.

14. Brekhman II , D ardymov IV. New substance

plant origin which increase non-specific resista

Ann Rev Pharmacol 1969; 9: 419430.

15. G rune T . I nfluence of A ll ium sativum

oxidative stress status a clinical investigat

Phytomedicine 1996; 2: 205207.

effect of garlic (allium sativum) oil on

Documents