Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Fusarium verticil/ioides (Sacc) Nirenberg a common phytopathogen of maize and maize-based products produces fumonisin B (FB) mycotoxins that have been related to several diseases such as equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), porcine pulmonary edema (PPE), liver toxicity in several animals and esophageal and liver cancer in humans. In one of our studies we hypothesize that aqueous extracts of indigenous South African wild garlic species (Tulbaghia violacea, T. alliacea and T. simmleri) may enhance the efficacy of the fungicides, SporekilPu, Thiram, Itraconazole and Fluconazole against F. verticil/ioides (MRC 826). Data analysis from in vitro results indicates that for the 16 different mixtures of each plant extract and fungicide combination, several significantly (P<O.05) higher growth inhibition responses were produced. More synergistic interactions were observed for the combinations of sporekill with T. violacea (62%) and T. alliacea (75%) than for T. simmleri (25%) .. Mixtures between the azole fungicides and T. simmleri produced 94 % synergistic interactions. Combination of fungicides and plant compounds offers the opportunity to find synergistic mixtures and may validate disease control strategies with increased biological activity and low dose rate application. Modulation studies of hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and oxidative properties of AI/ium sativum, Tulbaghia violacea and T. alliacea in male Fischer rats were also evaluated. Due to its complex phytochemical composition a battery of assays were used to evaluate antioxidant potential. The extracts exhibited no adverse effects in the liver and kidneys of the rats. Total plasma iron was not affected showing no evidence for iron catalyzed lipid peroxidation. An increase was noted in hepatic ORAC values for rats consuming T. violacea and T. al/iacea. However, no correlation was observed between the phenolic intake by the rats and the increased hepatic ORAC levels. In this study, pre-treatment with aqueous extracts of T. violacea, T. al/iacea and A. sativum resulted in a significant elevation in GSH levels, induction of GST -IJ and UDP-GT and modulation of CAT and SOD. This modulated oxidative status and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver may protect the liver against the adverse effects related to oxidative damage and mutagenesis. The chemoprotective properties of crude aqueous extracts of A. sativum, T. violacea and T. alliacea were investigated on preneoplastic foci formation promoted by culture material of F. verticil/ioides MRC 826 utilizing diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as cancer initiator. Clinical chemical parameters related to liver and kidney function and decreased body weight gain suggesting that severe, acute liver injury had been induced in the positive control (DEN-eMF) rats, while the levels were mostly reduced by the garlic treatments. This study further indicates that T. alliaceae (2 % w/v) and A. sativum (1% w/v) treatment suppressed GST-P+ foci formation with the modulation of GST-0 phase II detoxification enzymes, as well as the antioxidant enzyme, SOD (T. alliaceae) and decreased GSH levels as being possible mechanisms of protection. These results provide new evidence showing the modulation of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes and the oxidative status in the liver of rats by the wild garlic species as well as A. sativum.