Medicinal Properties of Garlic: An Overview

Abstract

Garlic is a plant in the Allium (onion) family. It is closely related to onions, shallots and leeks. It grows in many parts of the world and is a popular ingredient in cooking due to its strong smell and delicious taste. However, throughout ancient history, the main use of garlic was for its health and medicinal properties. Its use was well documented by all the major civilizations… including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans and the Chinese. Most of the health effects are caused by one of the sulfur compounds formed when a garlic clove is chopped, crushed or chewed. This compound is known as allicin, and is also responsible for the distinct garlic smell. Allicin enters the body from the digestive tract and travels all over the body, where it exerts its potent biological effects.

Keywords: Allicin, Allium sativum, Thiacremonone, Allicin

Cite this Article

Anjali Tripathi. Medicinal Properties of Garlic: An Overview. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2016; 3(2):  27–33p