The effects of allicin and enalapril in fructose-induced hyperinsulinemic hyperlipidemic hypertensive rats

The effects of a synthetic preparation of an active constituent of garlic, allicin, were studied on blood pressure (BP), triglycericles, and insulin l evels in Sprague-Dawley rats in which high fructose feeding elicited hyperi nsulinemia, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia. Results were compared w ith those of the antihypertensive drug enalapril. Three groups of male Spra gue-Dawley rats were fed a fructose-enriched diet for 5 weeks. During the l ast 2 weeks 10 animals received only fructose, IO received allicin, and 10 received enalapril. Blood pressure, insulin level, and triglyceride levels were measured at the beginning of the experiment and after a and 5 weeks on the fructose diet, fructose/allicin diet, or fructose/enalapril diet. Alli cin lowered BP from the maximal level (after 3 weeks of fructose) of 153.4 +/- 8 mm Hg to 139.7 +/- 12 mm Hg after 2 weeks on allicin; insulin from 11 .7 +/- 3.7 ng/mL on fructose diet to 6.92 +/- 3.3 ng/mL on allicin; and tri glycerides from 132.8 +/- 18 mg/dL on fructose to 59.6 +/- 27 mg/dL on alli cin. The similar effect of allicin and enalapril on BP, insulin, and trigly cerides reinforces the trend toward combining the nonpharmacologic approach with drug therapy. (C) 2001 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.