Evaluation of garlic oil as a contact dissolution agent for gallstones: comparison with monooctanoin.

OBJECTIVE

To find a better contact solvent to dissolve gallstones we studied invitro use of garlic oil and compared it with monooctanoin.

METHODS

In the first stage gall stones obtained from patients after cholecystectomy were subjected to dissolution in different concentrations of garlic oil. Then the rate of dissolution of gall stones in garlic oil was compared to that in monooctanoin in stage II. Efficacy of various concentration of garlic oil and monoocatanoin in dissolving gallstones in artificial gall bladder and common bile duct models were compared in stage III.

RESULTS

Garlic oil dissolved the cholesterol gall stones in proportion to the concentration used. The gall stone fragmentation was faster [6 hours V/s 36 hours] and more [88.30% V/s 71.01%] by garlic oil in comparison to monooctanoin in test tubes and even in artificial gallbladder and common bile duct models.

CONCLUSIONS

Garlic oil is a better contact dissolving agent of gallstones than monooctanoin.