T. Horie et al., Protective effect of aged garlic extract on the small intestinal damage ofrats induced by methotrexate administration, PLANTA MED, 65(6), 1999, pp. 545-548
The methotrexate (MTX) administration to rats causes the damage of small in
testine. The small intestinal damage was evaluated by measuring the intesti
nal permeability of the poorly absorbable compound, fluorescein isothiocyan
ate (FITC)-labeled dextran (average molecular weight, 4,400) (FD-4) using t
he in vitro everted intestine technique and by determining the FD-4 that ap
peared in plasma using the in situ closed loop intestine technique. The MTX
administration to rats fed with the standard laboratory diet increased the
small intestinal permeability of FD-4 due to the damage of the small intes
tine. Interestingly, the permeability of FD-4, when MTX was administered to
rats fed with the aged garlic extract containing diet, was depressed almos
t to the level of control rats without the MTX treatment. The present study
showed that the aged garlic extract protected the small intestine from the
damage induced by the action of MTX on the crypt cells.