Effect of Whole Garlic Treatment on Blood and Erythrocyte Glutathione (GSH) Concentration of Acute T. b. brucei Infection of Rats.

Abstract

Studies on the effect of the whole garlic treatment on some blood parameters and glutathione (GSH) concentration in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei were carried out. Some rats were treated orally with 50, 150 and 200mg garlicper kilogramme bodyweight from day 2 post infection (Pi). Blood and erythrocyte GSH concentration, Red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined on day 7 post infection and treatment. The results showed a significant increase in the Hb concentration, RBC count and PCV of garlic treated rats when compared to infected and untreated rats (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the blood GSH level of garlic treated rats (p>0.05) whereas the level of erythrocyte GSH dropped significantly at 150 and 200mg garlic per kilogramme bodyweight (p<0.05) . It seems therefore, that the mechanism by which garlic alleviates T. b. brucei induced anaemia could be other means than reducing peroxide load from the blood.