Hepatic Protective Effects of S -Allyl-L-Cysteine (SAC) in Rats with Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) Induced Liver Injury

S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) is an organosulfur compound derived from aged\r\ngarlic extract (AGE). Studies\r\nhave reported that AGE possesses bioprotective capacity, including\r\nantidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor effects. The present\r\nstudy examined the protective effects of SAC against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)\r\ninduced hepatotoxicity in rats. Ten male Wistar rats aged 11 - 12 weeks were\r\nrandomly divided into two groups (five rats/group) as control and SAC groups.\r\nAll rats had ad libitum access to water, and the SAC\r\ngroup received water containing SAC intragastrically (200 mg/kg) once daily for\r\nfive consecutive weeks. In the fifth experimental week, 50% CCl4 in\r\nolive oil (1 mL/kg) was administered intraperitoneally three times a week to\r\ninduce liver injury in both groups. Rats were sacrificed at 24 hours after the\r\nlast CCl4 injection, and liver tissues were excised for histopathological,\r\nimmunohistochemical and antioxidant analyses. The rats in the SAC group did not\r\nshow abnormal behavior, such as decreased water intake or food consumption,\r\nduring the experimental period. Body weights in all groups did not change\r\nsignificantly over the experimental period. Histopathological analysis showed\r\nthat the percentage of hepatic steatosis was lower in the SAC group at 12.75% ±\r\n3.74% compared to 24.64% ± 5.29% in the control group (p p 4-induced\r\nliver damage by decreasing hepatic steatosis and reducing CYP2E1 expression in\r\nrats.