Modulatory Effects of Allium Sativum Extract on Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Uterine Tissue of High-Salt Diet-Fed Adult Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

Dietary salt excess is increasingly recognized as a contributor to reproductive dysfunction, acting through inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. This study investigated the impact of highsalt diet (HSD) on ovarian cytokine expression and oxidative stress, and evaluated the protective role of Allium sativum extract in female Wistar rats. Twentyfive adult female Wistar rats (150–200 g) were randomized into five groups: normal control (NC), HSDonly, and HSD supplemented with AS extract at 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg. After the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and uterine samples analyzed for TNFα, IL10, and oxidative stress biomarkers. HSD exposure significantly elevated TNFα and MDA while reducing IL10, SOD, GSH, and CAT compared to controls. Administration of AS extract attenuated TNFα and restored IL10 in a dosedependent manner. Similarly, AS treatment reduced MDA and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, with the 400 mg/kg group showing the most pronounced improvements. Highsalt diet induces ovarian inflammation and oxidative stress in female Wistar rats. Allium sativum extract confers protection by modulating cytokine balance and reinforcing antioxidant defenses. These findings highlight garlic’s therapeutic potential as a dietary intervention against salt induced reproductive dysfunction.