What is Garlic?
This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a widely consumed herb known for its distinctive flavor and numerous health benefits. It has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. This article explores the various aspects of garlic, including its bioactive compounds, health benefits, and potential adverse effects. Other names include: Aged Black Garlic Extract, Aged Garlic Extract, Ail, Ail Blanc, Ail Cultive, Ail Rocambole, Ajo, Alho, Allii Sativi Bulbus, Allium, Allium sativum, Angio D’India, Black Garlic, Camphor Of The Poor, Clove Garlic, Common Garlic, Da Suan, Echte Rokkenbolle, Echter Knoblauch, Garlic Clove, Garlic Oil, Knoblauch, Lahsun, Lasun, Lasuna, Maneul, Nectar Of The Gods, Ninniku, Ophio Garlic, Poor Man’s Treacle, Rason, Rocambole, Rockenbolle, Rust Treacle, Schlangenknoblauch, Serpent Garlic, Spanish Garlic, Stinking Rose, Suan, Thoum, Vitlok, White Garlic.
Bioactive Compounds in Garlic
Garlic contains a variety of bioactive compounds, primarily organosulfur compounds such as allicin, alliin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl trisulfide. These compounds are responsible for many of garlic’s health-promoting properties3 7. Additionally, garlic is rich in vitamins, minerals, saponins, and polyphenols, which contribute to its broad range of biological activities7.
Health Benefits of Garlic
Antiviral Properties
Garlic has been shown to possess significant antiviral activity. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that garlic and its organosulfur compounds can inhibit various stages of viral infections, including blocking viral entry into host cells and inhibiting viral RNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase1. These antiviral effects are also linked to garlic’s immunomodulatory properties, which enhance the body’s immune response1.
Anticancer Potential
Garlic’s anticancer properties have been recognized for centuries. Its bioactive compounds can impact various stages of carcinogenesis by altering mitochondrial permeability, inhibiting angiogenesis, enhancing antioxidative and proapoptotic properties, and regulating cell proliferation2. These effects have been demonstrated in various human cancers, making garlic a potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent2.
Cardiovascular Health
Garlic has been extensively studied for its cardiovascular benefits. It has been shown to lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, reduce serum cholesterol levels, and stimulate the immune system5 9. These effects are primarily attributed to garlic’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering properties5 9.
Other Health Benefits
Garlic exhibits a wide range of other health benefits, including antibacterial, antifungal, hepatoprotective, digestive system protective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, neuroprotective, and renal protective properties3. It has also been used to alleviate oral pathologies and protect against natural and chemical toxicities4 8.
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Adverse Effects and Drug Interactions of Garlic
Despite its numerous health benefits, garlic can cause some adverse effects and interact with certain medications. Common side effects include “garlic breath” and body odor. In rare cases, garlic can cause allergic reactions, alter platelet function, and increase the risk of bleeding10. It may also interact with anticoagulants and reduce the efficacy of anti-AIDS drugs10.
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How has Garlic Improved Patient Outcomes?
Blood Glucose and Lipid Regulation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)
Garlic supplementation significantly reduces fasting blood glucose, fructosamine, and glycated hemoglobin levels over periods ranging from 1 to 24 weeks. It also improves lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels1.
Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance
Garlic supplementation improves components of metabolic syndrome, including increasing HDL-cholesterol, reducing waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, fatty liver index (FLI), and insulin resistance. It also positively affects appetite regulation2.
Hypertension and Cardiovascular Health
Garlic reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients, potentially lowering the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the evidence on its impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is inconclusive3 6 10.
Osteoarthritis and Pain Management
In obese women with knee osteoarthritis, garlic supplementation significantly reduces joint symptoms, stiffness, and physical function scores. It also decreases pain severity, potentially through anti-inflammatory effects4 7.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Garlic improves visual acuity, reduces central macular thickness, and lowers intraocular pressure in patients with diabetic macular edema, suggesting its role as an adjuvant treatment5.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Garlic supplementation leads to significant improvements in hepatic steatosis and related comorbidities, including reductions in weight, serum ALT, AST, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1C, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides9.
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Garlic Mechanisms of Action
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Mechanisms
Garlic and its organosulfur compounds (OSCs) inhibit viral entry into host cells, block viral RNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase, and DNA synthesis, and downregulate the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. These actions contribute to its antiviral activity2.
Garlic oil exhibits antifungal activity against Candida albicans by penetrating cellular membranes, disrupting organelles, and inducing stress responses in the pathogen10.
Anticancer Mechanisms
Garlic-derived compounds like allicin and ajoene induce apoptosis in cancer cells by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activating nuclear factor kappaB (NF-ÎşB)7.
These compounds also alter mitochondrial permeability, inhibit angiogenesis, enhance antioxidative and proapoptotic properties, and regulate cell proliferation3.
Immunomodulatory Effects
Garlic enhances immune function by stimulating macrophages, lymphocytes, NK cells, dendritic cells, and eosinophils. It modulates cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, phagocytosis, and macrophage activation4.
Consumption of garlic upregulates genes related to immunity, apoptosis, and xenobiotic metabolism, indicating its role in enhancing immune responses5.
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties
Garlic reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, which are crucial in managing conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)6.
Its antioxidant properties are linked to the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play a role in various disease processes9.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Garlic activates nitric oxide synthase (NOS), leading to increased production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with reduced blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health8.
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Common Complaints Associated with Garlic Use
Odor Issues
“Garlic breath” and body odor are the most common complaints associated with garlic intake1 2.
Allergic Reactions
Garlic can cause various allergic reactions, including allergic contact dermatitis, generalized urticaria, angioedema, pemphigus, anaphylaxis, and photoallergy1.
Burn Injuries
Application of raw garlic on the skin can cause burn injuries, often resulting in second-degree burns and, in some cases, necrotic tissue formation1 3.
Platelet Function and Coagulation
Garlic may alter platelet function and coagulation, posing a potential risk of bleeding1.
Drug Interactions
Garlic can enhance the effects of anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, fluindione) and reduce the efficacy of anti-AIDS drugs (e.g., saquinavir)1.
Infant Behavior
Consumption of garlic by nursing mothers can modify their infant’s behavior during breastfeeding1.
Rash
Adverse effects of garlic supplements can include skin rash2.
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The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.
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