European Journal of Nutrition

, Volume 53, Issue 3, pp 919–928 | Cite as

Protective effects of garlic extract on cardiac function, heart rate variability, and cardiac mitochondria in obese insulin-resistant rats

  • Luerat Supakul
  • Hiranya Pintana
  • Nattayaporn Apaijai
  • Siriporn Chattipakorn
  • Krekwit Shinlapawittayatorn
  • Nipon Chattipakorn
Original Contribution
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

Garlic has been shown to exhibit antioxidant effects and cardioprotective properties. However, the effects of garlic extract on the heart in insulin resistance induced by long-term high-fat-diet consumption are not well defined. Therefore, we sought to determine the effects of garlic extract in the obese insulin-resistant rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats (180–200 g) were divided into two groups: normal-diet or high-fat-diet (n = 24/group) fed for 12 weeks. Rats in each groups were divided into three subgroups (n = 8 each): vehicle or garlic extract (250 or 500 mg/kg/day, respectively) treated for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, the metabolic parameters, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiac function, and cardiac mitochondrial function were determined.

Results

Rats that received a high-fat-diet for 12 weeks had increased body weight, visceral fat, plasma insulin levels, total cholesterol, oxidative stress levels, depressed HRV, and cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction. Garlic extract at both concentrations significantly decreased the plasma insulin, total cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment index, and oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, garlic extract at both doses restored the HRV, cardiac function, and cardiac mitochondrial function.

Conclusion

We concluded that garlic extract at both concentrations exerted cardioprotective effects against cardiac dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction in obese insulin-resistant rats.

Keywords

Garlic extract High-fat-diet Insulin resistance Cardiac function Mitochondrial function 

Abbreviations

BCA

Bicinchoninic acid

DCFDA

Dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate

ECG

Electrocardiogram

EDP

End diastolic pressure

EGTA

Ethylene glycol bis (2-amino ethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid

ESP

End systolic pressure

HOMA

Homeostasis model assessment

HPLC

High-performance liquid chromatography

HR

Heart rate

HRV

Heart rate variability

JC-1

5,5′,6,6′-Tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide

MDA

Malondialdehyde

ΔΨm

Mitochondrial membrane potential changes

ROS

Reactive oxygen species

SV

Stroke volume

TBA

Thiobarbituric acid

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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Thailand Research Fund Senior Scholar Grant RTA 5580006 (NC), BRG 5480003 (SC), and MRG5580125 (KS).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Luerat Supakul
    • 1
    • 2
  • Hiranya Pintana
    • 1
    • 2
  • Nattayaporn Apaijai
    • 1
    • 2
  • Siriporn Chattipakorn
    • 1
    • 3
  • Krekwit Shinlapawittayatorn
    • 1
    • 2
  • Nipon Chattipakorn
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of MedicineChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand
  2. 2.Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of MedicineChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand
  3. 3.Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Science, Faculty of DentistryChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand

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