Abstract:

Objective: Based on the potent antioxidant effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE), the present study was designed to characterize the potential of AGE to modify blood coagulation parameters as well as and pulmonary and ileal injury in septic rats. Sepsis was induced using the caecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method. Methods: Twenty-four hours after sepsisinduction, rats were decapitated and trunk blood was collected for the measurement of platelet counts, fibrinogen, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and D-dimer levels. Then, pulmonary and ileal tissue samples were immediately obtained and stored at – 70oC for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assays. Results: Sepsis was associated with a decrease in platelet count and fibrinogen and an increase in APTT and INR. It also caused a significant decrease in GSH levels and SOD activity in both pulmonary and ileal tissue samples. On the other hand, AGE treatment in rats with CLP caused significantly augmented the level of these antioxidants. As a result of CLP induction increased MPO activity and MDA levels and decreased thromboplastic activity were reversed with AGE treatment. Conclusion: AGE treatment, through its antioxidant effects, protects against oxidative pulmonary and ileal injury and normalizes the impaired coagulation in sepsis.   

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