Endocrine Abstracts

Evaluation of Garlic extract effect on serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) level in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

SM Shafiee¹, SM Hosseini², A Yabesi³ & ZB Hesabi¹

¹Iran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Tehran, Iran; ²Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Mashhad, Iran; ³Arsanjan Azad University, Department of Biology, Arsanjan, Iran.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in the development of diabetic vascular complications and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has a major role in this system. This study sought to examine the in vivo effect of aqueous extract of garlic (Allium sativum) on the level of ACE activity of serum from streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Serum ACE activity measured by Cushman and Cheung colorimetric assay in the beginning of diabetes induction, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks. Although treatment with garlic extract had no significant effect on serum glucose but it significantly decreased the level of serum ACE activity. Results showed that ACE activity in diabetic rats was higher than non diabetic animals but in diabetic animals treated by garlic extract the elevation of ACE activity did not find. These findings was more remarkable after 8-week in compare with 4-week period. Results suggest that garlic extract can be introduced as a useful ACE inhibitor to prevent some vascular complications of diabetes mellitus.

Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 11 P273