1.
INTRODUCTION
Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the most widely used medicinal
plants known for both its culinary and therapeutic benefits. Used
since ancient times, garlic has a rich history in traditional medicine
systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Traditional Chinese
Medicine. Its cloves are valued not only for their pungent flavor and
aroma but also for their broad-spectrum pharmacological
properties, including antimicrobial, antihypertensive,
antithrombotic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and
anticancer effects. The bioactive compounds such as allicin, diallyl
sulfides, and ajoene are primarily responsible for garlic's medicinal
efficacy.
2. BOTANICAL INFORMATION OF THE PLANT
• Scientific Name: Allium sativum
• Family: Amaryllidaceae (formerly classified under Liliaceae)
• Common Names: Garlic, Lahsun (Hindi), Lasun (Marathi),
Veluthulli (Malayalam)
• Origin and Distribution: Native to Central Asia; extensively
cultivated worldwide, especially in China, India, Korea, and the
Mediterranean region.
• Botanical Description:
• Plant Type: Perennial herb grown as an annual
• Height: 30–60 cm
• Leaves: Long, flat, narrow, grass-like leaves arising from the
bulb
• Flowers: Small, white or pink, forming a terminal umbel
• Bulb: Underground storage structure made up of several
cloves covered with a papery sheath
• Roots: Fibrous and shallow-rooted
• Propagation: Typically propagated vegetatively via cloves
3. TRADITIONAL USES OF THE PLANT
Garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years across
various traditional systems:
1. Ayurveda: Used to balance Vata and Kapha doshas. It is
described as Rasayana (rejuvenator), with benefits for
digestion, heart health, respiratory conditions, and sexual
vitality.
2. Unani Medicine: Used to treat paralysis, joint pain, digestive
disorders, and as a blood purifier.
3. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Used to detoxify the body,
relieve diarrhea, and treat respiratory and cardiovascular
diseases.
4. Folk Uses: Crushed garlic is applied externally to treat wounds,
insect bites, and skin infections. Consumed with honey or milk
for respiratory problems and immunity boosting.
5. Dietary Use: Commonly consumed raw, roasted, or in paste
form; used to flavor food and improve appetite and digestion.
4. PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF THE PLANT
Garlic is a powerhouse of bioactive sulfur-containing compounds
that are released upon crushing or chopping the cloves.
Organosulfur Compounds:
• Allicin– the principal bioactive compound formed
enzymatically from alliin when garlic is crushed
• Ajoene – formed from allicin, responsible for anticoagulant
and antifungal activity
• Diallyl sulfide, Diallyl disulfide, Diallyl trisulfide – show
antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant effects
• Enzymes: Alliinase – catalyzes the conversion of alliin to
allicin
• Saponins: Antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering properties
• Flavonoids: Quercetin, kaempferol – provide antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory effects
• Vitamins and Minerals: Rich in vitamin C, B6, selenium,
manganese, and calcium
• Polysaccharides: Fructans – support gut health and immunity
5. PHARMACOLOGY OF THE MEDICINAL PLANT
Numerous preclinical and clinical studies support the health-
promoting effects of garlic:
1. Antimicrobial Activity: Garlic exhibits broad-spectrum
antimicrobial effects against bacteria (including Helicobacter
pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, fungi (Candida albicans), and
viruses. Allicin and ajoene disrupt microbial cell walls and
inhibit enzyme synthesis.
2. Antihypertensive Effect: Garlic supplementation has been
shown to reduce blood pressure by promoting vasodilation
through nitric oxide modulation.
3. Hypolipidemic Activity: Garlic lowers serum cholesterol and
triglyceride levels by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis enzymes.
4. Anticancer Properties:Organosulfur compounds induce
apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth by
modulating carcinogen metabolism.
5. Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects: Garlic scavenges
free radicals and inhibits inflammatory mediators, reducing
oxidative stress in chronic diseases.
6. Antidiabetic Effect: Enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces
blood glucose levels in both animal and human studies.
7. Cardioprotective Effect: Inhibits platelet aggregation and
reduces arterial plaque formation, thus lowering the risk of
atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
8. Hepatoprotective Activity: Protects liver cells from toxins like
carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol through antioxidant
mechanisms.
6. CONCLUSION
Garlic (Allium sativum) is an ancient medicinal herb with significant
modern-day relevance. Its therapeutic spectrum, supported by
extensive phytochemistry and pharmacological research, makes it a
valuable natural remedy for infectious, cardiovascular, metabolic,
and inflammatory disorders. Safe, cost-effective, and easily
available, garlic is an excellent example of food as medicine. With
continuing scientific exploration, garlic's role in preventive and
integrative healthcare is set to expand further.
REFERENCES
1. Ankri, S., & Mirelman, D. (1999). *Antimicrobial properties
of allicin from garlic*. Microbes and Infection, 1(2), 125–129.
2. Rahman, K., & Lowe, G. M. (2006). *Garlic and
cardiovascular disease: a critical review*. The Journal of
Nutrition, 136(3 Suppl), 736S–740S.
3. Ried, K., Frank, O. R., Stocks, N. P., Fakler, P., & Sullivan, T.
(2008). *Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic.
