Medicinal values of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Human Life: An Overview

Garlic is one of the important bulb crops grown and used as a spice or a condiment throughout India. According to the Unani and Ayurvedic systems as practised in India, garlic is carminative and is a gastric stimulant and thus help in digestion and absorption of food. Allicin present in aquous extract of garlic reduces cholesterol concentration in human blood. Garlic extract has antimicrobial activity against many genera of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Garlic contains a higher concentration of sulfur compounds which are responsible for its medicinal effects. The chemical constituents of garlic have also been investigated for treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, atherosclerosis and hyperlipidaemia and highly praised by several authors. Therefore, this paper is reviewed to inspire and impress the young researchers about the medicinal values of garlic. The inhalation of garlic oil or garlic juice has generally been recommended by doctors in case of pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism, sterility, impotency, cough and red eyes. Garlic possesses insecticidal action. About 1% garlic extract gives protection against mosquitoes for 8 hours. Extract of garlic along with chilli and ginger has beneficial action against soil nematodes. Beneficial use of garlic extract has been found against many fungi. Garlic is probably one of the earliest known medicinal plants, which used from ancient time to cure different disease conditions in human. Garlic’s principal medicinal uses are to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, fight infections, and prevent cancer. The main interest of researchers in the medicinal values of garlic is its broad-spectrum therapeutic effect with minimal toxicity. Garlic extract has antimicrobial activity against many genera of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Garlic contains a higher concentration of lavoura compounds which are responsible for its medicinal effects. The active constituents are  avoura-containing compounds that are rapidly absorbed and metabolized. Numerous studies suggest that garlic lowers total cholesterol concentrations by approximately 10%, favorably altering HDL/LDL ratios. Literature survey support garlic’s effectiveness as a mild antihypertensive, lowering blood pressure by 5-7%. Garlic inhibits platelet aggregation and enhances fibrinolytic activity, reducing clots on damaged endothelium. Another important use of garlic is as antidiabetic. Garlic controls the blood sugar level by different types of mechanisms. In vitro studies and animal data suggest that garlic may help to prevent some solid tumors. Therefore garlic is also effective in the cancer prevention. There are no studies evaluating its effectiveness in treating children or pregnant or nursing women. The other proposed uses of garlic include the hepatoprotective, antihelmentics, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal and wound healing. Garlic, from crushed to capsules, is consumed throughout the world. The active chemical in garlic is allicin, which is produced when raw garlic is crushed, allowing the enzyme alliinase to act on the stable precursor allin. Garlic’s antidiabetic, antibiotic and perhaps anticancer effects are well accepted in the world over, because of the many scientific literature supporting these effects. Garlic also has hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and antihelmentic effect. This review paper demonstrated some of the benefits of garlic for its potential uses in preventing and curing different diseases, and acting as antioxidant for many radicals. Fresh and powdered garlic are popular for food flavor and should continue to be used. Today, with the ever-growing resistant organisms, taking of garlic extract remains a powerful antimicrobial agent. Clearly more studies are needed to refine the use and improvement of the efficacy of this important medicinal plant. It is corresponding that substitute medicines practices with plant extracts including garlic as a means of decreasing the burden of diseases would be of public health importance.