When garlic (Allium sativum) was administered to rat per os simultaneously with cadmium, methylmercury and phenylmercury to detect the protective effect against the heavy metal poisoning, accumulation of heavy metals in liver, kidneys, bone and testes were decreased, and. histopathological damages and the inhibition of serum alkaline phosphatase activities by heavy metals were reduced. Such effect of garlic was not shown in the 1.7% garlic treated group and most remarkable in the 6.7% garlic treated group.
The protective effect of garlic was superior to those of the current remedies, 2,3-dime rcapto-l-propanol(BAL) and D-penicillamine (PEN), and nearly similar to those of 2,3dimercaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) and N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine(APEN), while garlic was not effective as a curative agent for heavy` metal poisoning.
The excretion of cadmium was enhanced, more through feces than urine by garlic but the effect to the urinary excretion of cadmium was not significant comparing with DMSA or ADEN when cadmium was injected intraperitoneally in the first 3 days during the 12 days of oral, administration of DMSA, APEN or garlic.
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