The effects of allicin and enalapril in fructose-induced hyperinsulinemic hyperlipidemic hypertensive rats

The effects of a synthetic preparation of an active constituent of garlic, allicin, were studied on blood pressure (BP), triglycerides, and insulin levels in Sprague-Dawley rats in which high fructose feeding elicited hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia. Results were compared with those of the antihypertensive drug enalapril. Three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a fructose-enriched diet for 5 weeks. During the last 2 weeks 10 animals received only fructose, 10 received allicin, and 10 received enalapril. Blood pressure, insulin level, and triglyceride levels were measured at the beginning of the experiment and after 3 and 5 weeks on the fructose diet, fructose/allicin diet, or fructose/enalapril diet. Allicin lowered BP from the maximal level (after 3 weeks of fructose) of 153.4 ± 8 mm Hg to 139.7 ± 12 mm Hg after 2 weeks on allicin; insulin from 11.7 ± 3.7 ng/mL on fructose diet to 6.92 ± 3.3 ng/mL on allicin; and triglycerides from 132.8 ± 18 mg/dL on fructose to 59.6 ± 27 mg/dL on allicin. The similar effect of allicin and enalapril on BP, insulin, and triglycerides reinforces the trend toward combining the nonpharmacologic approach with drug therapy.