Zahra Nazeri - Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Shirin Azizidoost - Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Maryam Cheraghzadeh - Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Asma Mohammadi - Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Alireza Kheirollah - Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Objective: Regulation of cholesterol level is essential for the brain optimal function. The beneficial effect of garlic consumption on cholesterol homeostasis is well known; however, the molecular mechanism to support its properties is unclear. Here, we investigated the beneficial effect of aqueous extract of garlic and allicin on lipid profile and the main players involved in brain cholesterol homeostasis including ABCA۱, HMG-CoA reductase, and CYP۴۶A۱ in both C۵۷BL/۶J mice brain and astrocytes.  Materials and Methods: Thirty mice were divided into control and garlic groups. Garlic group was fed with the aqueous extract of garlic. Serum lipids were measured and brain protein levels of ABCA۱, HMGCR, and CYP۴۶A۱ were determined by western blotting. Changes in these proteins expression were also studied in the presence of allicin in cultured astrocytes. Results: A moderate decrease in serum total cholesterol and a significant increase in plasma HDL-C levels (p <۰.۰۵) were detected. A significant increase in ABCA۱, HMGCR, and CYP۴۶A۱ protein levels was observed in the garlic group and in the cultured astrocytes treated with allicin by western blotting (p <۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the main players involved in cholesterol turnover including HMGCR that is involved in cholesterol synthesis, ABCA۱ that is important in cholesterol efflux, and CYP۴۶A۱ that is necessary in cholesterol degradation, were up regulated by garlic/allicin in both animal and cell culture model. We concluded that increasing cholesterol turnover is a possible mechanism for the beneficial effects of garlic in cholesterol homeostasis.

Garlic, Allicin, HMG-CoA reductases, ATP binding cassette transporter ۱, CYP۴۶A۱