Garlic Benefits

How were health benefits of garlic found?

The name garlic is derived from an English word – Garleac, which means ‘spear leek‘. Asia is the native place of garlic and was discovered almost 5000 to 6000 years before. Garlic is one of the core Mediterranean cooking ingredients which is frequently consumed in Asian, European and African region. ‘Garlic’ botanically known as Allium sativum, belongs to Alliaceae family. [1]

Our ancestors had discovered the health benefits of garlic much before the scientific evidence has explained its medicinal property. In the 12^th century or before, garlic was used for sun heat relieving effect. When plague endemic spread over the European region at the middle age, European people ate whole garlic cloves to get the protection against ‘black death’. During World War I and II, the soldiers were treated with garlic, as a natural antiseptic to prevent gangrene. Ancient Egyptians believed that garlic can prevent 22 different ailments. [1] Asian people used garlic as a traditional medicine for treating hypertension, tuberculosis, bronchitis, rheumatic arthritis, intestinal worms, dysentery, liver disorder, diabetes, fever. The Greek physician Hippocrates also acknowledged the garlic health benefits against parasitic infections, poor digestion, respiratory problem, and fatigue condition. In the early 20th century, garlic was first introduced in American cuisine.

What are the phytochemicals present in Garlic?

Garlic is an underground bulb crop widely used to prepare many food items due to its spicy flavor. Chopped, sliced, minced, or juiced raw garlic are added in different cuisine not only for adding flavor, but also to enhance nutritional value to the food preparation. The food value of garlic is high due to its macro, micro, and bioactive nutrients. Raw garlic contains 65% of moisture content. Maximum active ingredients (97%) present in garlic are water-soluble, however, very small amounts are oil soluble. Fructose-containing carbohydrate, protein, fiber, and free amino acids are macronutrients, whereas, vitamins A and C, B-complex vitamins, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, selenium, and manganese are different micro-ingredients present in garlic. Apart from these, high phenolic content and saponins are different bioactive phytonutrients present in garlic. The metabolic products of garlic contain sulfur compounds that produce allyl methyl sulfide and release through lungs and skin. Thus, garlic odor stays in our body for an extended period.[1]

What is the Mode of action of health benefits of Garlic?

The food value of garlic is huge due to its nutritional properties. However, garlic is not only a kitchen ingredient but possess the immense medicinal property and multiple health benefits against a variety of health disorders. S-alkyl cysteine sulfoxides (alliin) and the γ-glutamyl-S-alkyl cysteine are two sulfur compounds and allicin, the main thiosulfanate present in garlic provide primary health benefits. The presence of allicin in raw garlic is responsible for releasing neurotransmitters from the sensory nerve endings and can produce a burning sensation due to heat release. The activation of sensory nerves stimulates neuropeptides and causes vasodilatation. Allicin also has a potent free radical scavenging property. Recent research findings also reported that phenolic and steroidal compounds present in garlic have medicinal value. [1,2]

Different Forms of Garlic

Garlic has two different forms soft-neck garlic and hard-neck garlic.

• Soft-neck garlic further classified as artichoke and silver-skin. Applegate, Early Red Italian, California Early, Inchelium Red are some of the artichoke garlic varieties. Polish White, Chet’s Italian Red and Kettle River Giant are some of the Silver-skins garlic varieties.
• Hard-neck garlic has many varieties. Rocambole is a common variety of Hard-neck garlic. Chesnok Red, Polish Hardneck, Purple Stripe are some other verities of Hard-neck garlic. [3]

Garlic Supplement is available in the market in the form of tablets, capsules, enteric-coated pills and oils for conventional application of garlic and to obtain easy health benefits. However, people also take raw garlic cloves in their diet. But experts recommended not to use every dosage form of garlic at a time. [4]

GARLIC BENEFITS

As already discussed, the application of garlic is not limited in culinary uses, but it has a wide range of health-promoting, disease-preventing and treating benefits due to medicinal properties secured into their phytonutrients. There are multiple scientific trial reports which support the health benefits of garlic. This is widely evident as garlic supplements are available in complementary medicinal shelves in many pharmaceutical stores. The following are scientifically proved different health benefits of garlic. [5]

Garlic as a natural antibiotic

Garlic has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, effective against a wide range of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The allicin present in garlic can react with the enzymatic function of the micro-organisms and suppress their growth and helps in curing the infection.

The strong antimicrobial property of garlic is effective against Helicobacter pylori and prevents gastric ulcers. The athlete’s foot, thrush and viral diarrhea can also be treated with garlic. [1, 5]

Garlic lowers cholesterol

Garlic has bad cholesterol i.e. LDL lowering effect and it do not hamper HDL or good cholesterol level by providing particular cholesterol production-limiting effect on the liver. Garlic also has blood thinning property and prevents blood clotting inside the blood vessels. In addition, blood pressure lowering effect of garlic produce the anti-hypertensive effect. All these positive mechanisms of garlic provide the heart-healthy effect. [1, 5]

Garlic help in cancer prevention

The increasing prevalence of cancer becomes a great threat to mankind. Multiple preclinical and clinical trials were conducted with garlic to determine the anti-carcinogenic effect against a variety of cancers including gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer. Both in vivo and in vitro studies found that active constituents of garlic targets cell cycle and induce apoptotic cell death and angiogenic activity, thus provides anti-carcinogenic activities. [1, 5]

Garlic benefits diabetes

Garlic helps to control blood glucose level in experimental animals and supports the hypoglycemic effect of garlic. A human trial also reported metformin, the conventional treatment of diabetes along with garlic as an adjuvant therapy provides better blood sugar control in diabetes mellitus affected patients. [1, 5]

Garlic benefits memory

Free radicals accumulation leads to decreased brain functioning and in severe condition leads to Alzheimer’s disease. The very potent antioxidant property of garlic can reduce the load of free radicals in brain tissue and improves brain functioning. Research conducted in China also found that sallylcystein, sulfur-containing the active ingredient of garlic has a preventive effect against the degeneration of the brain’s frontal lobes. Researchers claim that garlic may also improve intelligence. [1, 5]

Garlic is a Immune system booster

The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of garlic improve immune system functioning. In addition, nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium and manganese present in garlic can also boost immune system activity. Researchers found that garlic has the ability to inhibit Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) by improving immune functioning. The respiratory condition including cold and cough can also be treated by garlic due to its decongestant and expectorant properties. The anti-viral property of garlic is effective against the HIV virus by increasing natural killer cell activity. [1,5]

Garlic for weight loss

Allicin present in garlic prevents weight gain. Animal research showed that the same amount of food consumption without allicin supplement increased the body weight, whereas animals treated with allicin supplement maintained stable weight or witnessed a slight reduction of body weight. [1,5]

Garlic benefits in osteoporosis 

It is expected that phytoestrogenic effects of garlic may have a preventive action against bone loss, especially for women having pre-mature menopausal syndrome. Garlic helps to restore calcium content in bone by modulating intestinal enzyme functions and increasing the calcium absorption rate. As per the study reports, garlic supplement help to improve bone mineral content and bone tensile strength in the experimental animals. Thus, garlic has osteoporosis preventive action.  [1, 5]

Garlic prevents liver and kidney disorders

Acetaminophen is one of the most common analgesics and antipyretic medicine used in many countries. The common side effect of this drug is liver and kidney problem. The antioxidant property of garlic prevents such drug-induced liver and kidney toxicity. [1, 5]

GARLIC SIDE EFFECTS

According to USFDA, garlic is considered a generalized item and recognized as safe. Some of the side effects of using raw garlic preparations in high doses include body odor, bad breath, stomach upset, bloating, burning sensation in the skin. Enteric-coated garlic supplement formulations can be used to avoid these side effects.

When should I avoid garlic?

Garlic acts as a blood thinner, so it should be avoided pre a surgery.  Garlic can interact with certain medications like warfarin, antihypertensive medicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, cyclosporin, hypoglycemic agent. [1]

References

1. Neeraj Sethi, et. al. Int. Res. J.. Pharm. 2014. 
2. J. Agric. Food Chem.20075541280-1288
3. Amy Grant. Different Types Of Garlic: Garlic Varieties To Grow In The Garden. Gardening. 
4. Garlic 
5. K. P. Sampath Kumar et al. J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2010, 2(1): 135-146.