Effects of aqueous garlic extract intervention on plasma glucose, lipid profile and alkaline phosphatase concentrations in atazanavir treated rattus norvegicus albinus

Abstract

Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy (Protease inhibitors) are prone to complications including abnormalities in glucose metabolism, lipid derangement, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that Garlic can improve glycemic status and changes in lipid profiles. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous garlic extract intervention on the plasma glucose, lipid profiles and alkaline phosphatase concentration in atazanavir treated Rattus norvegicus albinus. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of aqueous garlic extract intervention on plasma fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase concentrations in atazanavir treated male Rattus norvegicus albinus. This was a randomized experimental study which lasted fourteen weeks.The study used thirty-nine (39) male Rattus norvegicusthat were randomly divided into three (3) groups, (control, treat 1 and treat 2) consisting of 13 animals each. Treat 1 rats received a daily atazanavir treatment at 10mg/Kg. Treat 2 rats received daily atazanavir treatment as in treat 1 above plus garlic extract 250mg/kg body weight as from the third week. The control rats received 2ml of normal daily throughout the study period. The plasma total triglycerides, high density lipoproteins cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase concentrations were done using automated analyzer for lipid profile and liver enzymes respectively. The differences between meanconcentrations of fasting blood glucose, total triglycerides, high density lipoproteins cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol were analyzed using one- way ANOVA. Test of significance was set at P <0.05. Treat 1 showed a significant (P=0.000) increase in the mean concentration of fasting blood glucose of 5.4mmol/L at the end of the study while treat 2 rats showed an increase to 4.7mmol/L as at the eight week with a significant decline at end of the study to 4.4mmol/L compared to the controls whose FBG levelranged between4.0mmol/Land 4.3mmol/Lduring the study period. Treat 1 animal exhibited significant (P=0.00) increase in total tryglycerides to 64mg/dL while treat 2 also recorded an increase to 63mg/dL followed by a decline to 47mg/dL by the end of the study. The mean LDLc increased significantly (P=0.000) to about 74mg/dl by the end of the study in treat 1 whereas in treat 2 this increased to 72mg/dL by the sixth week before declining to 62mg/dL. Treat 1 exhibited a significant (P=0.000) decline of HDL from…..to 47mg/dL during the fourth week and down to 41mg/dL by the end of the study while Treat 2 showed an initial decline to 42mg/dL at six weeks before significantly(p=?) rising to 52mg/dL at the end of the study. Treat 1 showed a significant (P=0.000) elevation of the mean plasma ALP in the fourth week (65U/L. Treat 2 on the other hand showed a significant increase to 63U/L by 4th week before declining to 56U/L by the end of the study. The findings of this study show that atazanavir caused elevation of FBG, TTGLD, LDLc and ALP and a decline in HDLc concentration. Aqueous garlic extract reversed all the atazanavir treatment effects hence can be considered as an adjunct therapy in patients on PI based regimen. These findings suggest that garlic can be used as a supplement for intervening the metabolic effects of atazanavir.