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Sustained oxidative stress from heavy metals may alter the body´s antioxidant reserves to an extreme point resulting in damaging of cellular defense system. The observation by the author and his team suggest that garlic (allium sativum L) has the potential to enhance the endogenous antioxidant status in nickel as well as hexavalent chromium induced lipid peroxidation in normal as well as diabetic rats. This is possibly due to the presence of essential antioxidant phytochemicals which protect the physiological system from the toxic assault of metal induced free radicals. The research findings clearly enhanced interest in the use of phytochemical based drugs from the medicinal plants as chelators to combat heavy metal toxicities.

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b.1962,PhD (Physiology) from University of Calcutta and Professor -Al Ameen Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India. Published 81 original articles, 1 book and 2 book chapters. Recipient- Physiological Society of IndIa´s S. Dasgupta Memorial Gold Medal. Regular Member-The American Physiological Society. Chief Editor-Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences.

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