The present study evaluated the effect of garlic and shallot aqueous extracts on glucose tolerance and lipid profiles in a fructose-induced insulin-resistance rat model. Male albino Wistar rats were fed either normal or high-fructose diet for a period of eight weeks. Fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL levels, FIRI, and the area under the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (i.p. GTT) were significantly elevated in fructose-fed animals. Fructose-induced insulin resistance rats treated by aqueous shallot or garlic extract (500mg/Kg BW/day, i.p.) for duration of twelve weeks. Control and fructose-fed animals only received normal saline (0.9%). The results showed that garlic and shallot extracts could not significantly improve the i.p. GTT and lipid profile at the fourth week after treatment. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance has been significantly improved in fructose-induced insulin resistance animals after twelve weeks administration by garlic and/or shallot extracts. These results indicate that shallot and garlic extracts have a hypoglycemic influence on the fructose-induced insulin resistance animals. Garlic extract treatment, but not shallot extract, for a period of twelve weeks could significantly diminish the level of cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in fructose-fed rats. The data suggest that intake of the garlic ameliorated the fructose-induced hypercholesterolemia in the insulin resistance state.

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