Cardioprotective actions of garlic (Allium sativum)

The influence of an intake of garlic powder (1%--corresponding to Kwai/Sapec--added to a standard chow for a 10-week period) on the susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias under ischemia and reperfusion was investigated in the isolated rat heart (Langendorff preparation) perfused with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. The incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) after ligation of the descending branch of the left coronary artery (LAD) (20 min) was significantly reduced in the garlic group as compared to untreated controls (VT: 0% vs. 35.5%; VF: 50% vs. 88%). The size of the ischemic zone was significantly smaller (31.7% vs. 40.9% of total heart tissue). The reperfusion experiments (5 min after 10 min ischemia) revealed similar results (VT: 50% vs. 100%; VF: 30% vs. 90%). The time until occurrence of extrasystoles and VT or VF was prolonged in most cases, and the duration of arrhythmias was abbreviated. No significant alterations in cardiac membrane fatty acid composition could be found. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) caused a moderate increase in arrhythmias and ischemic zone in the garlic group as well as in untreated controls under the conditions of the present experiments. Thus, it seems that the prostaglandin system does not play a predominant role in the cardioprotective action of garlic. The significance of free radical scavenging activity of garlic for its antiarrhythmic effects has to be established.