Abstract

GARLIC (Allium sativum Linn.) AS A NUTRACEUTICAL: REVISITING THE POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS IN HEALTH AND DISEASES

Dr. Maitrayee Banerjee Mukherjee and Dr. Dolan Das*

ABSTRACT

Garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) is one of the oldest authenticated herb with a long history of use throughout the world for both its culinary and therapeutic properties. The use of garlic in food was well documented by many civilizations including Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Babylonians. It has been reported that garlic as a dietary component may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Organosulfur compounds present in garlic have also been known to possess antithrombotic, lipid-lowering, antioxidative, hypocholesterolemic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities and it combat viral respiratory infections by modulating immune system. Garlic also enhances the fibrinolytic process which results in dissociation of clots and thrombi. The anti-hypertensive action of garlic by lowering peripheral resistance is also reported. It is also proved to have an antiosteoporotic potentiality in hypogonadal conditions. Antioxidants present in garlic may protect against neuronal cell damage and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Aged garlic extract also has the potential to ameliorate experimentally induced lead and arsenic toxicity in animal model. By reducing oxidative stress and suppressing inflammatory cytokines through activation of Nrf2 garlic principles could ameliorate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in wistar rats. The phytoactive/phytotherapeutic principles present in garlic which act as nutraceuticals proved immense importance as biomedical remedy since ancient times up to ongoing Covid 19 pandemic period. This review describes the wide therapeutic approach of this traditional medicinal herb and its experimental evidences in the context of modern medicine and future therapeutics.

Keywords: Garlic, Organosulfur, Cholesterol, Anti-viral, Phytoestrogen.