After gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of prepared methanolic extract of Allium sativum, 40 laboratory BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally by injection of 1,500 viable protoscoleces. Five months after
infection, the infected mice were allocated into four treatment groups, including 1-
Albendazole (100 mg/kg); 2- Allium sativum methanolic extract (10 mL/L); 3- A. sativum methanolic extract (10 mL/L) +
Albendazole (50 mg /kg); and 4- untreated control group. After 30 days of daily treatment, total number and weight of
cysts and size of the largest
cyst as well as blood serum
bilirubin and liver
enzymes were compared between the mice of different groups.The total number and weight of
cysts and size of the largest
cyst were significantly lower in treated groups A. sativum 10 mL/L +
Albendazole 50 and
Albendazole 100 in comparison to those of the control group (p < 0.05).The activity of
alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
enzyme and
bilirubin concentration were significantly lower in the mice treated with A. sativum 10 mL/L and A. sativum 10 mL/L +
Albendazole 50, when compared to the control group. In addition,
bilirubin concentration revealed significant decrease in A. sativum 10 mL/L and A. sativum 10 mL/L +
Albendazole 50 groups, when compared to the
Albendazole group. In conclusion, administration of A. sativum 10 mL/L improved the anti-
hydatidosis activity of
Albendazole 50 mg /kg, due to parasitological effects similar to
Albendazole 100 mg /kg but less hepatotoxic effects.