New insight on using aged garlic extract against toxic impacts of titanium dioxide bulk salt triggers inflammatory and fibrotic cascades in male rats.

The efficacy of aged garlic extract (AGE) in alleviating the hepatic inflammation and pulmonary fibrotic responses induced by titanium dioxide (TiO2) toxicity was studied. The control group received distilled water. AGE-treated group received AGE (2ml/kgbw). TiO2- intoxicated group received TiO2 (5g/kgbw). AGE combined with TiO2 treated group administered AGE prior TiO2 by six hours at the same previously doses. All treatments were given orally every other day for two months. TiO2- intoxicated rats elicited a significant up-regulation in hepatic TLR-2, TLR-4, NF-ĸB/p65, CYP1B1 and CYP2B1 with pulmonary MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1, collagen-1α, fibronectin mRNA. Moreover, a significant elevation in serum AST, ALT, LDH, β-glucuronidase, N-acetyl β glucosaminidase, hydroxyproline, MMP-9, TIMP-1, fibronectin, TGF-β1 levels with a significant decrease in total protein that ensued from TiO2 toxicity. The ultra-histopathological findings reinforced these results. The co-administration of AGE and TiO2 alleviated these changes. These data support the nutraceutical role of AGE against TiO2 toxicity.