The effects of black garlic (Allium sativum L.) ethanol extract on the estimated total number of Purkinje cells and motor coordination of male adolescent Wistar rats treated with monosodium glutamate

Abstract

A number of studies have indicated that monosodium glutamate (MSG) might cause negative effects on the nervous system, including in the cerebellum. Garlic (Allium sativum) has long been known as a flavouring agent and a traditional remedy for various illnesses. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of garlic on the motor coordination and the number of Purkinje cells present in rats treated with MSG. A total of 25 male Wistar rats aged 4 to 5 weeks old were used in this study and were divided into five groups, namely a negative control (C-) group, which received 0.9 % NaCl solution, a positive control (C+) group, which received MSG, and three treated groups, which received 2 mg/g bw of MSG and 2.5 mg (T2.5), 5 mg (T5), or 10 mg (T10) of black garlic solution per oral administration (per 200 g bw), respectively. All treatments were carried out for 10 days. Upon the end of the treatment, the motor performance of all rats were tested using the rotarod apparatus. The rats were subsequently sacrificed, and the cerebella of the rats were processed for stereological analyses. It has been found that the number of Purkinje cells of the cerebella of all treated groups were significantly higher than that of the group treated with MSG only. No changes in motor coordination function were observed as a result of MSG treatment.

Black Garlic and Its Therapeutic Benefits

“…Furthermore, a variety of doses of black garlic extracts (from 2.5 to 10 mg/200 g body weight) also inhibit deleterious effect of monosodium glutamate on spatial memory and total number of pyramidal neurons in CA1 region of the hippocampus [44]. These findings are identical with the results from Indonesian report, in which black garlic improves motor coordination function and the number of Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex of the rat brain [45]. The protection effect of black garlic on nerve system from neuroinflammation, a pathological evidence of Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment has been well documented [46].…”

Formation, nutritional value, and enhancement of characteristic components in black garlic: A review for maximizing the goodness to humans

“…In addition to the above‐mentioned therapeutic effects, BG was also found to exhibit beneficial effects on the memory and nervous system and reduce oxidative stress and hangover syndrome effects (Hermawati, Sari, & Partadiredja, ; Yang, ). The administration of 70% ethanolic extracts of ABG led to the significant improvement of spatial memory function and a significant increase in the total number of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus (Hermawati et al., ) and the Purkinje cells of the cerebella in monosodium glutamate‐treated Wistar rats (Aminuddin, Partadiredja, & Sari, ). The abilities of an ethyl acetate fraction from ABG to inhibit prothrombin, blood coagulation factors, and platelet aggregation suggest a significant antithrombosis activity (Jung & Sohn, ).…”

Physicochemical Properties, Biological Activity, Health Benefits, and General Limitations of Aged Black Garlic: A Review

“…In rat hearts, ABG10+ induces a relaxing effect on coronary arteries before and after ischemia reperfusion (IR) and prevents the IR-induced decrease in myocardial contractility [ 70 ]. ABG ethanol extract increases spatial memory and the number of Purkinje cells in rats treated with monosodium glutamate [ 71 , 72 ], indicating that ABG might have a neuroprotective effect. ABG shows anti-thrombotic effects on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in rat [ 73 ] and human [ 38 ].…”