Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a popular spice usually eaten raw or cooked in various doses and its potential medical properties have been recognized for thousands of years (Agarwal, 1996). Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. 21 adult male wistar albino rats were randomly divided into control, test 1 and test 2 groups. The test 1and test 2 groups received oral doses of 1.4 and 2.4 ml respectively of 100 mg/ml garlic extract for 31 days. Their body weights were measured before and after the study. The rats were sacrificed and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture while serum testosterone was evaluated by radioimmunoassay technique. The testes were also taken for histological analysis. The control group was compared with test 1 and with test 2 group and a significant decrease in serum testosterone levels was observed between the controls and test 2 group. The body weight of each group before the study was compared with their weight after the study and the decrease observed was not significant. There were morphological changes in the testes of the garlic – fed rats. The results are discussed.

Key words: Garlic, serum testosterone, testes.