Title
Therapeutic actions of garlic constituents.
Author
Agarwal KC
Source
Med Res Rev, 1996 Jan, 16:1, 111-24
Abstract
Most studies on garlic during the past 15 years have been primarily in the fields of
cardiovascular and cancer research. Cardiovascular studies have been mainly related to
atherosclerosis, where effects were examined on serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and
triglycerides. Although the studies were not consistent in relation to the dosage,
standardization of garlic preparations, and period of treatment, most findings suggest that
garlic decreases cholesterol and triglycerides levels in patients with increased levels of these
lipids. Lowering of serum lipids by garlic ingestion may decrease the atherosclerosis
process. The other major beneficial effect of garlic is due to its antithrombotic actions. This
field of garlic research has been extensively studied. Garlic extracts and several garlic
constituents demonstrate significant antithrombotic actions both in vitro and in vivo
systems. Allicin and adenosine are the most potent antiplatelet constituents of garlic because
of their in vitro effects. Since both allicin and adenosine are rapidly metabolized in human
blood and other tissues, it is doubtful that these compounds contribute to any antithrombotic
actions in the body. In addition, ajoene also seems not to be an active antiplatelet principle,
because it is not naturally present in garlic, garlic powders, or other commercial garlic
preparations. Only a small amount of ajoene can be found in garlic oil-macerates; however,
ajoene is being developed as a drug for treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Recent
findings on the identification of potent enzyme inhibiting activities of adenosine deaminase
and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in garlic extracts are interesting, and may have a
significant role in the pharmacological actions in the body. Presence of such enzyme
inhibitors in garlic may perhaps explain several clinical effects in the body, including the
antithrombotic, vasodilatory, and anticancer actions. Epidemiological studies have suggested
that garlic plays a significant role in the reduction of deaths caused by malignant diseases.
This had led many investigators to examine garlic and garlic constituents for their antitumor
and cytotoxic actions both in vitro and in laboratory animals. The data from these
investigations suggest that garlic contains several potentially important agents that possess
antitumor and anticarcinogenic properties. In summary, the epidemiological, clinical, and
laboratory data have proved that garlic contains many biologically and pharmacologically
important compounds, which are beneficial to human health from cardiovascular,
neoplastic, and several other diseases. Numerous studies are in progress all over the world
to develop effective and odorless garlic preparations, as well as to isolate the active
principles that may be therapeutically useful.

Title
Surgically significant nutritional supplements.
Author
Petry JJ
Source
Plast Reconstr Surg, 1996 Jan, 97:1, 233-40
Abstract
This is not an exhaustive study of all nutritional supplements that patients may be taking.
The most frequently used and those potentially most detrimental or most beneficial for
surgical patients have been chosen for review of pertinent effects. It is essential to ask
patients specifically about supplements or unusual dietary habits that may affect their
surgical outcome prior to their invasive procedure and to keep in mind the supplements that
may improve their outcome.

Title
Antibacterial effect of garlic and omeprazole on Helicobacter pylori.
Author
Jonkers D; van den Broek E; van Dooren I; Thijs C; Dorant E; Hageman G; Stobberingh E
Source
J Antimicrob Chemother, 1999 Jun, 43:6, 837-9
Abstract
The antibacterial effect of a home-made raw garlic extract and commercial garlic tablets
alone and in combination with antibiotics or omeprazole was determined against clinical
isolates of Helicobacter pylori. MIC values of raw garlic extract and three types of
commercial garlic tablets ranged from 10,000 to 17,500 mg/L. When MIC values of the
commercial tablets were based on the allicin content, no differences between the three types
were observed. The combination of garlic and omeprazole, studied with killing curves,
showed a synergic effect which was concentration dependent. Further clinical evaluation of
garlic in combination with the conventional agents for H. pylori treatment seems warranted.

Title
Antimicrobial activity of spices.
Author
Arora DS; Kaur J
Source
Int J Antimicrob Agents, 1999 Aug, 12:3, 257-62
Abstract
Spices have been shown to possess medicinal value, in particular, antimicrobial activity.
This study compares the sensitivity of some human pathogenic bacteria and yeasts to
various spice extracts and commonly employed chemotherapeutic substances. Of the
different spices tested only garlic and clove were found to possess antimicrobial activity.
The bactericidal effect of garlic extract was apparent within 1 h of incubation and 93%
killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhi was achieved within 3 h. Yeasts
were totally killed in 1 h by garlic extract but in 5 h with clove. Some bacteria showing
resistance to certain antibiotics were sensitive to extracts of both garlic and clove. Greater
anti-candidal activity was shown by garlic than by nystatin. Spices might have a great
potential to be used as antimicrobial agents.

Title
Medicinal herbs: a primer for primary care.
Author
Hadley SK; Petry JJ
Source
Hosp Pract (Off Ed), 1999 Jun, 34:6, 105-6, 109-12, 115-6 passim
Abstract
Used for centuries as folk remedies, herbs are enjoying a surge of public interest. Some
empiric findings have been supported by formal research results. In order to advise patients
about such preparations, physicians need to be aware of the indications, contraindications,
drug interactions, and potential side effects. Eight popular herbs are reviewed.

Title
Stabilization and pharmaceutical use of alliinase.
Author
Krest I; Keusgen M
Source
Pharmazie, 1999 Apr, 54:4, 289-93
Abstract
In recent years, numerous clinical trials were undertaken in order to elucidate the active
principle of garlic (Allium sativum L., Alliaceae). The most prominent effect of garlic
preparations is a contribution to the prevention of stroke and arteriosclerosis.
Allicin[(2-propenyl)-2-propenethiosulfinate] and other sulfur containing compounds were
suggested as active compounds. The extremely unstable allicin itself is liberated from the
more stable alliin [S-(+)-2-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide] by the enzyme alliinase (EC
4.4.1.4) if fresh garlic is crunched or garlic powder is moistened. Therefore, an active
enzyme is required in alliin containing remedies like those prepared from garlic powder. In
order to investigate enzyme stability, alliinase was isolated from garlic powder. The partially
purified enzyme could be stabilized over several months by addition of sodium chloride,
sucrose, and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. Alliinase may also be freeze-dried. This allows
combinations of synthetic alliin and purified alliinase as components of an acid resistant
tablet or capsule. In the intestine, the pro-drug alliin would be enzymatically converted to
allicin. In clinical trials, highly dosed preparations of this kind should yield a precise
information about the physiological effects of allicin. In addition, alliin-homologues
substances which bear a modified alkyl side chain and do not occur in nature may be tested.

Title
Otomycosis--a clinico-mycological study and efficacy of mercurochrome in its treatment.
Author
Chander J; Maini S; Subrahmanyan S; Handa A
Source
Mycopathologia, 1996, 135:1, 9-12
Abstract
A total of 110 patients of symptomatic otomycosis was investigated, prospectively. Aural
swabs were collected on 1st, 7th and 14th day and examined by direct microscopy and
culture for fungi. Of these, 80 patients found to be having pure fungal infection, were taken
up for mycological and therapeutic study. Fungi belonging to genus Aspergillus were
isolated in 76 (95.0%) patients of which Aspergillus niger was the commonest isolate in 46
(57.5%), followed by A. flavus in 27 (33.7%), A. fumigatus in 3 (3.7%), Candida species
in 3 (3.7%) and Mucor in 1 (1.2%). The patients were of all age groups but majority were
between 21 and 30 years and the male-female ratio was equal. Of the total of 40 male
patients, twenty-one were Sikhs using turban. Before developing the symptoms, forty five
patients used oil, mixture of oil and garlic juice, antibiotics, steroids, antiseptics or wax
solvent as ear drops. Only two patients were diabetic. No patient had fungal infection
elsewhere in the body. The patients were called for regular follow-up for three weeks. In
forty cases mercurochrome was applied as the antifungal agent after cleaning the external
auditory canal, in twenty-three clotrimazole and in rest of the seventeen patients miconazole
was used. On 7th day, only 11 (13.7%) patients grew different fungi in culture. They
became symptom-free on 14th day and no fungal material could be seen on otoscopy, direct
microscopy or culture. Mercurochrome was found to be most effective in these patients.

Title
Study of the micro-organisms associated with the fermented bread (khamir) produced from
sorghum in Gizan region, Saudi Arabia.
Author
Gassem MA
Source
J Appl Microbiol, 1999 Feb, 86:2, 221-5
Abstract
Traditional bread (khamir) was made from sorghum flour of two local varieties, Bayadh
and Hamra. The bread was prepared by mixing the sorghum flour with water and spices
(onion, garlic, lemon juice and fenugreek) in a 1:0.8 (w/w) ratio and fermented for 24 h at
30 degrees C. Two other fermentations were carried out using an inoculum from the
previous fermentation. The micro-organisms were isolated from different plates and
identified using different characterization systems. Both total bacterial populations and lactic
acid bacteria increased with fermentation time and reached the highest number at 16 h (first
fermentation) and at 8 h (second and third fermentation). The content of lactic acid was
increased with time to reach 1.2%, but the increase was higher for the second and third
fermentations (1.6% each). The pH dropped with time from 6.77 to 4.35 in the first
fermentation and from 6.65 to 4.18, and 6.57-3.93, in the second and third fermentations,
respectively. The microorganisms, which were isolated and characterized during the 24 h
fermentation, included: bacteria (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lact. lactis
subsp. lactis, Lact. cellobiosus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Kl. pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes,
Ent. sakazakii, Serratia marcescens and Ser. odourifera), moulds (Penicillium sp., Rhizopus
sp., Aspergillus niger, Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp. and Mucor sp.) and yeasts (Candida
parapsilosis, C. orvegnsis and Rhodotorula glutinis).

Title
Antimicrobial activity of the thiosulfinates isolated from oil-macerated garlic extract.
Author
Yoshida H; Katsuzaki H; Ohta R; Ishikawa K; Fukuda H; Fujino T; Suzuki A
Source
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1999 Mar, 63:3, 591-4
Abstract
Three thiosulfinates were isolated from oil-macerated garlic extract, and their structures were
identified as 2-propene-1-sulfinothioic acid S-(Z,E)-1-propenyl ester [AllS(O)SPn-(Z,E)],
2-propenesulfinothioic acid S-methyl ester [AllS(O)SMe], and methanesulfinothioic acid
S-(Z,E)-1-propenyl ester [MeS(O)SPn-(Z,E)]. This is the first report of isolating these
thiosulfinates from oil-macerated garlic extract. Antimicrobial activities of
AllS(O)SPn-(Z,E) and AllS(O)SMe against Gram-positive and negative bacteria and yeasts
were compared with 2-propene-1-sulfinothioic acid S-2-propenyl ester [AllS(O)SAll,
allicin] which is well-known as the major thiosulfinate in garlic. Antimicrobial activity of
AllS(O)SMe and AllS(O)SPn-(Z,E) were comparable and inferior to that of allicin,
respectively. This result suggested that the antimicrobial activity of 2-propene sulfinothioic
acid S-alk(en)yl esters were affected by alk(en)yl groups. The order for antimicrobial
activity was: allyl > or = methyl > propenyl.

Title
Inhibition of microbial growth by ajoene, a sulfur-containing compound derived from
garlic.
Author
Naganawa R; Iwata N; Ishikawa K; Fukuda H; Fujino T; Suzuki A
Source
Appl Environ Microbiol, 1996 Nov, 62:11, 4238-42
Abstract
Ajoene, a garlic-derived sulfur-containing compound that prevents platelet aggregation,
exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Growth of gram-positive bacteria, such as
Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Streptomyces griseus,
was inhibited at 5 micrograms of ajoene per ml. Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus
plantarum also were inhibited below 20 micrograms of ajoene per ml. For gram-negative
bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Xanthomonas maltophilia,
MICs were between 100 and 160 micrograms/ml. Ajoene also inhibited yeast growth at
concentrations below 20 micrograms/ml. The microbicidal effect of ajoene on growing cells
was observed at slightly higher concentrations than the corresponding MICs. B. cereus and
Saccharomyces cerevisiae were killed at 30 micrograms of ajoene per ml after 24 h of
cultivation when cultivation was started at 10(5) cells per ml. However, the minimal
microbicidal concentrations for resting cells were at 10 to 100 times higher concentrations
than the corresponding MICs. The disulfide bond in ajoene appears to be necessary for the
antimicrobial activity of ajoene, since reduction by cysteine, which reacts with disulfide
bonds, abolished its antimicrobial activity.