Effectiveness of garlic oil in the treatment of arsenical palmar keratosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v8i1.13121Keywords:
Arsenic, Garlic, KeratosisAbstract
Thousands of Bangladeshi are suffering from arsenic-induced keratosis affecting palms and soles. Palmar keratosis, particularly in young female, affects the socioeconomic condition. Till today there is no effective treatment. Twenty patients of mild to moderate degree of arsenical palmar keratosis were treated with garlic oil in soft capsule (10 mg) daily orally for 12 weeks. Similar treatment was given to 17 arsenic exposed controls and 15 healthy volunteers for comparison. Effectiveness of treatment was evaluated by change in the clinical score of palmar keratosis and amount of total arsenic in nail after 12 weeks. The mean (± SD) clinical scoring of patients before treatment was 102.8 ± 19.0. It was reduced to 36.0 ± 8.7 after completion of treatment (65% reduction). The mean amounts of total arsenic in nail of patients and arsenic exposed controls were 13 to 14-fold higher in comparison to healthy volunteers. Treatment with garlic oil reduced about 50% of the total arsenic accumulated in nails. Common adverse effects were garlic smell and gastric irritation. However, there was no drop out case due to these adverse effects. Oral administration of garlic oil improves symptom of arsenical palmar keratosis with reduction in body arsenic load.
Downloads
353
176 Read
17
References
Amagase H. Clarifying the real bioactive constituents of garlic. J Nutr. 2006; 136: 716S25S.
Argos M, Kalra T, Rathouz PJ, Chen Y, Pierce B, Parvez F, Islam T, Ahmed A, Rakibuz-Zaman M, Hasan R, Sarwar G, Slavkovich V, van Geen A, Graziano J, Ahsan H. Arsenic exposure from drinking water, and all-cause and chronic-disease mortalities in Bangladesh (HEALS): A prospective cohort study. Lancet 2010; 376: 25258.
Banerjee SK, Maulik SK. Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: A review. Nutr J. 2002; 1: 4.
Brodnitz MH, Pascale JV, van Derslice LJ. Flavor components of garlic extract. J Agric Food Chem. 1971; 19: 273-75.
Challier B, Perarnau JM, Viel JF. Garlic, onion and cereal fibre as protective factors for breast cancer: A French case-control study. Euro J Epidemiol. 1998; 14: 737-47.
Chowdhury NJA, Mir Misbahuddin M, Rahman MS. Corn extracts lower tissue arsenic level in rat. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 2009; 35: 21-25.
Chowdhury R, Dutta A, Chaudhuri SR, Sharma N, Giri AK, Chaudhuri K. In vitro and in vivo reduction of sodium arsenite induced toxicity by aqueous garlic extract. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008; 46: 740-51.
Dina AN, Misbahuddin M. Randomized double-blind trial to evaluate the effectiveness of topical administration of propylene glycol in arsenical palmer keratosis. Bangladesh J Pharmacol. 2010; 5: 98-102.
Freeman F, Kodera Y. Garlic chemistry: Stability of S-(2-propenyl)-2-propene-1-sulfinothiate (allicin) in blood, solvents and simulated physiological fluids. J Agric Food Chem. 1995; 43: 2332-38.
Gupta N, Porter TD. Garlic and garlic-derived compounds inhibit human squalene monooxygenase. J Nutr. 2001; 131: 1662-67.
Islam AZMM, Sikdar S, Biswas AK, Islam Z, Hadiuzzaman, Misbauddin M, Khandaker S, Mahmud I, Ahmad SA. Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of topical use of salicylic acid for treatment of keratosis in arsenicosis patient. In: Applied research on arsenic in Bangladesh. Misbahuddin M (ed). World Health Organization, Dhaka, 2007, pp 92-100.
Kemper KJ. Garlic (Allium sativum). The Longwood Herbal Task Force and The Center for Holistic Pediatric Education and Research. 2000, p 4.
Khan MAR, Misbahuddin MS, Khandker S, Ifthaker-Al-Mahmud. Arsenic estimation in foodstuffs of arsenic exposed areas in Bangladesh. In: Applied research on arsenic in Bangladesh. Misbahuddin M (ed). World Health Organization, Dhaka, 2007, pp 31-42.
Lawson LD. Garlic: A review of its medicinal effects and indicated active compounds. In: Phytomedicines of Europe. Chemistry and biological Activity. Series 691. Lawson LD and Bauer R (eds). American Chemical Society, Washington, 1998, pp 176-209.
Li H, Li HQ, Wang Y, Xu H, Fan W, Wang M, Sun P, Xie X. An intervention study to prevent gastric cancer by micro-selenium and large dose of allitridum. Chinese Med J. 2004; 117: 1155-60.
L'vova GN, Zasukhina GD. Modification of repair DNA synthesis in mutagen-treated human fibroblasts during adaptive response and the antimutagenic effect of garlic extract. Genetika 2002; 38: 306-09.
Milner JA. Mechanisms by which garlic and allyl sulfur compounds suppress carcinogen bioactivation. Garlic and carcinogenesis. Adv Exper Med Biol. 2001; 492: 69-81.
Misbahuddin M, Islam AZ, Khandker S, Ifthaker-Al- Mahmud, Islam N, Anjumanara. Efficacy of spirulina extract plus zinc in patients of chronic arsenicosis poisoning: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006; 44: 135-41.
Misbahuddin M, Khandker S, Jakariya M. Arsenic contamination of drinking water and foodstuffs. In: Drinking water contaminants in Bangladesh: Focuses on arsenic, fluoride, pesticides, manganese and cyanobacteria. Misbahuddin M, Khandker S (eds). Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, 2011, pp 12-57.
Moyers S. Garlic in health, history and world cuisine. Suncoast Press, St Petersburg, FL. 1996. pp 1-36.
Shenoy NR, Choughuley AS. Inhibitory effect of diet related sulphydryl compounds on the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. Cancer Lett. 1992; 65: 227-32.
Sinha SK, Misbahuddin M, Ahmed ANN. Factors involved in the development of chronic arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. Arch Environ Health 2003; 58: 699-700.
Tilli CMLJ, Stavast-Kooy AJW, Vuerstaek JDD, Thissen MRTM, Krekels GAM, Ramaekers FCS, Neumann HAM. The garlic-derived organosulfur component ajoene decreases basal cell carcinoma tumor size by inducing apoptosis. Arch Dermatol Res. 2003; 295: 117-23.
Umar BU. Effect of hexane extract of spinach in the removal of arsenic from rat. Bangladesh J Pharmacol. 2007; 2: 27-34.
Watanabe C, Inaoka T, Kadono T, Nagano M, Nakamura S, Ushijima K, Murayama N, Miyazaki K, Ohtsuka R. Males in rural Bangladeshi communities are more susceptible to chronic arsenic poisoning than females: Analyses based on urinary arsenic. Environ Health Perspect. 2001: 109: 1265-70.
Winski SL, Carter DE. Interactions of rat red blood cell sulfhydryls with arsenate and arsenite. J Toxicol Environ Health 1995; 46: 379-97.
Woodward PW. Garlic and friends: The history, growth and use of edible Alliums. Melbourne, Hyland House, 1996, pp 2-22.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
