|
These experiments were carried out to find the anti-hypertensive effects of garlic in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Animals were divided into 2 groups, the one group was fed 3% galic diet (SHR-CD), the other was fed normal control diet (SHR-CD) for 4 weeks, respectively. We measured the blood pressure and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) in plasma. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activities were measured in plasma and glomeruli. Light microscopic observations were performed in beam and kidney. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure of SHR-GD were significantly decreased, 14.7% and 17.9%, respectively, compared with those of SHR-CD. The ACE activity of SHR-GD in plasma and glomeruli were also decreased, 16.59´o and 28.9%, respectively, compared with those of SHR-GD. There are no significant changes in lipid profiles between SHR-GD and SHR-GD. Light microscopic observation showed that the hypertrophy and fibrosis of heart and kidney cells were ameliorated in the SHR-CD compared with SHR-CD. These data strongly suggested that the anti-hypertensive effects of garlic could be related to the decreased activity of ACE in the plasma and kidney.
|