Fatty liver induced by
alcohol abuse is a major worldwide health hazard leading to morbidity and mortality. Previous studies indicate antifatty liver properties of garlic. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of
garlic oil (GO) or
diallyl disulfide (DADS) imparted hepatoprotection against alcohol induced
fatty liver in C57BL/6 mice using microarray-based global gene expression analysis. Alcohol liquid diet resulted in severe
fatty liver with increased levels of serum
aspartate aminotransferease and
alanine aminotransferease as well as
triglycerides and decreased levels of liver
glutathione and
antioxidant enzymes. The major canonical pathways implicated by alcohol treatment are the metabolisms of
xenobiotics by
cytochrome P450,
glutathione, and
arachidonic acid. Treatment with DADS or GO normalized the serum aminotransferease levels and liver
antioxidant enzymes and reduced the contents of
triglycerides and
cholesterol. The canonical pathways involved in the amelioration of liver include
arachidonic acid metabolism, altered T cell and B cell signaling,
tryptophan metabolism, antigen presentation pathway for DADS, metabolism of
xenobiotics, mitotic roles of Polo-like
kinase,
fatty acid metabolism, LPS/IL-1 mediated inhibition of RXR function, and C21-steroid
hormone metabolism for GO.