The antioxidant and toxicological effect of Allium sativum extract was investigated in rat liver in vitro. The effect of the antioxidant potential of the extract on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals (OH*) was assessed while the toxicological effect of the extract on antioxidant enzymes such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as catalase (CAT) was also evaluated. The results show that aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Allium sativum cloves demonstrated significant (p<0.05) scavenging effect on DPPH and OH* radicals. It also indicates synergistic effect of the plant extract on antioxidant defense enzymes with concomitant increase in their activities compared to control. Therefore, Allium sativum could offer protection against free radical-induced oxidative stress and related diseases.
