Development of topical patches releasing allicin using garlic extract.

INTRODUCTION: Treating hair loss of Alopecia areata is a quite challenge. The treatment not only needs to be effective but must meet specific requirements in terms of accurate dose, sustain release, comfortable application with aesthetic appearance. Thus, the study was designed to develop sustained release topical patches releasing allicin using different sources, including the extract from fresh and aged garlic, and commercially pure one. METHODS: Patches were formulated by solvent casting method using ethylene-vinyl acetate as backing layer and Carbopol® 971P NF (CP) as mucoadhesive polymer. Physicochemical properties were evaluated including weight, thickness, drug content, surface pH, moisture content, folding endurance, and swelling. In addition to in vitro diffusion study across the cellulose and Strat-M® membranes. RESULTS: Patches showed good physicochemical properties. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was obvious in the percentage of allicin diffused across cellulose membrane between patch A (loaded with commercial allicin), patch B1 (loaded with fresh garlic extract), and patch C (loaded with aged garlic extract). However, ethanol enhanced the diffusion of allicin. The percentage of allicin diffused across cellulose membrane over 20 h from patch E (45 mg CP, 2 mL fresh garlic extract-equivalent to 60 mg allicin-and 1 mL of ethanol) was 79.94%. The flux and permeability coefficients were 2.62 mg/cm2 /h and 0.52 cm/h, respectively, with an enhancement ratio of 2.60 times the reference patch M (mashed garlic). CONCLUSION: Promising development of topical patches of allicin using garlic extract as natural source with lower cost than the commercial pure allicin and higher aesthetic acceptance than the used mashed garlic.

Effects of laying breeder hens dietary ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, and jejunum morphology of their offspring chicks.

This study evaluated the growth performance, immunity, and jejunum morphology of chicks hatched from laying breeder hens given dietary additive supplementation, as well as chicks receiving direct antibiotic supplementation in early life. Hy-line breeder hens were allotted to 2 groups with 3 replicates. A control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, and the treatment group (CCAB) received ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate in addition to basal diet for 5 wk. Breeder-hen eggs were collected and hatched. The chicks hatched from the CON group were assigned to 2 treatments: a chick control group (cCON) and a chick treatment group (Cipro) given ciprofloxacin lactate into drinking water; the cCON group, Cipro group, and the chicks hatched from the CCAB group (cCCAB) were fed the same diet for 4 wk. The results demonstrated that there were significant differences between the CON and CCAB groups in the serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgM (triple P < 0.01), lysozyme (P < 0.05), and ß-defensin (P < 0.05). The body weights of the cCCAB group's chicks increased at 1, 7, and 28 D of age (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), and those of the Cipro group's chicks increased at 7 and 21 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The tibial lengths of the cCCAB group's chicks increased at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, triple P < 0.01), and the lengths in the Cipro group increased at 7 and 14 D of age (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). Intestinal development, including intestinal length, jejunum morphology, and IgA positive cells, helps to explain these results. The breeder eggs from the CCAB group had higher IgG (P < 0.05) and IgM (P < 0.05) levels in the egg whites and higher IgA, IgG, and IgM levels (triple P < 0.01) in the egg yolks. In conclusion, ß-carotene, curcumin, allicin, and sodium butyrate supplementation of laying breeder hen diets produced more advantages in growth performance and intestinal development in offspring than in chicks directly supplemented with antibiotics.

Allicin as add-on therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Allicin (2-propene-1-sulfinothioic acid S-2-propenyl ester, diallyl thiosulfinate) extracted from garlic, has proven activity against Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection. In recent years, clinical trials have explored its utility as an add-on therapy with variable outcomes reported. AIM: To perform a systemic review of allicin as an add-on treatment for H. Pylori infection and assess its efficacy in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Chinese VIP Information Databases, Chinese Medical Databases, and the Wan-Fang Database were searched for keywords including "allicin", "Helicobacter pylori", "randomized clinical trials", and their synonyms. A meta-analysis was performed using the fixed-effects model for low heterogeneity and the random-effects model for high heterogeneity with sensitivity analysis. Bias was evaluated using Egger's tests. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to evaluate information size and treatment benefits. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the level of quality, and studies were classed as "high quality", "moderate quality", "low quality", and "very low quality". RESULTS: A total of eight RCTs consisting of 867 participants (435 from the allicin group and 432 from the control group) were included. Eradication rate in the allicin group (93.33%, 406/435) was significantly higher than that of the control group (83.56%, 361/432) [I 2 = 0%, odds ratio (OR) = 2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74-4.35, P < 0.001]. The healing rate of ulcers following H. pylori therapy in the allicin group (86.17%, 349/405) was significantly higher than that of the control group (75.87%, 305/402) [I 2 = 0%, OR = 2.05, 95%CI: 1.39-3.03, P < 0.001]. The total remission rate of peptic ulcers across all allicin groups was 97.16%, which was significantly higher than that of controls [96.05% (389/405) vs 86.55% (360/402), I 2 = 0, OR = 3.04, 95%CI: 1.51-6.12, P = 0.015]. No significant differences in side effects were observed. TSA suggested that the trials were of sufficient standard to draw reliable conclusions. The quality of outcomes including eradication rates and side effects was graded as "very low" due to downgrades for "risk of bias" and "indirectness". Other outcomes such as ulcer healing rates and total ulcer remission rates were graded as "low" due to downgrades for "risk of bias". CONCLUSION: Allicin as an add-on therapy improves H. pylori eradication, healing of ulcers, and remission of symptoms. These results are suggested to be treated with caution due to limited quality.

Allicin Bioavailability and Bioequivalence from Garlic Supplements and Garlic Foods.

Allicin is considered responsible for most of the pharmacological activity of crushed raw garlic cloves. However, when garlic supplements and garlic foods are consumed, allicin bioavailability or bioequivalence (ABB) has been unknown and in question because allicin formation from alliin and garlic alliinase usually occurs after consumption, under enzyme-inhibiting gastrointestinal conditions. The ABB from 13 garlic supplements and 9 garlic foods was determined by bioassay for 13 subjects by comparing the area under the 32-h concentration curve of breath allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), the main breath metabolite of allicin, to the area found after consuming a control (100% ABB) of known allicin content: homogenized raw garlic. For enteric tablets, ABB varied from 36⁻104%, but it was reduced to 22⁻57% when consumed with a high-protein meal, due to slower gastric emptying. Independent of meal type, non-enteric tablets gave high ABB (80⁻111%), while garlic powder capsules gave 26⁻109%. Kwai garlic powder tablets, which have been used in a large number of clinical trials, gave 80% ABB, validating it as representing raw garlic in those trials. ABB did not vary with alliinase activity, indicating that only a minimum level of activity is required. Enteric tablets (high-protein meal) disintegrated slower in women than men. The ABB of supplements was compared to that predicted in vitro by the dissolution test in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP); only partial agreement was found. Cooked or acidified garlic foods, which have no alliinase activity, gave higher ABB than expected: boiled (16%), roasted (30%), pickled (19%), and acid-minced (66%). Black garlic gave 5%. The mechanism for the higher than expected ABB for alliinase-inhibited garlic was explored; the results for an alliin-free/allicin-free extract indicate a partial role for the enhanced metabolism of γ-glutamyl S-allylcysteine and S-allylcysteine to AMS. In conclusion, these largely unexpected results (lower ABB for enteric tablets and higher ABB for all other products) provide guidelines for the qualities of garlic products to be used in future clinical trials and new standards for manufacturers of garlic powder supplements. They also give the consumer an awareness of how garlic foods might compare to the garlic powder supplements used to establish any allicin-related health benefit of garlic.

Feed degradability, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in response to essential oil addition to fistulated non-lactating dairy cow diets.

The effects of essential oils (EOs) on ruminal nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in fistulated non-lactating dairy cows were studied. Four fistulated non-lactaing dairy cows were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design; the experiment consisted of four periods of 21 days in each period, with the first 14 days for adaptation followed by 7 days of measurement period. Animals were fed 3 kg/day of 21% crude protein (CP) concentrate and ad libitum corn silage. Treatments were: (i) control; (ii) 2 mL Allicin/cow/day; (iii) 2 mL zingiberene/cow/day; and (iv) 2 mL citral/cow/day. The results demonstrated that EOs increased dry matter and neutral detergent fiber degradabilities at 48 and 72 h, but had no effect on acid detergent fiber and CP degradabilities. EOs did not change ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen, protozoa, volatile fatty acid concentrations and blood glucose but reduced blood urea nitrogen at 4 h.

In vitro efficacy of allicin on chicken Eimeria tenella sporozoites.

Chicken coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease caused by Eimeria spp. It is controlled and treated using chemical anticoccidial agents. Development of partial or complete resistance toward these anticoccidials is considered a major problem in poultry industry. Allicin is an organosulfur compound produced as a result of the reaction between alliin and alliinase after hacking of garlic. In this study, tenfold dilution from 180 mg/ml to 1.8 ng/ml of allicin in distilled water was tested against E. tenella in vitro. The percent of inhibition in allicin was from 99.9 to 71.53% using 180 mg/ml and 180 ng/ml, respectively. The percent of inhibition was 56.24% using 1.8 ng/ml. We used allicin as a treatment from plants against chicken coccidiosis; however, in vivo study should be performed to confirm these results.

A review on the effects of Allium sativum (Garlic) in metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome is a common problem world-wide and includes abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia disorders. It leads to insulin resistance and the development of diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease. Allium sativum (garlic) has been documented to exhibit anti-diabetic, hypotensive, and hypolipidemic properties. This suggests a potential role of A. sativum in the management of metabolic syndrome; however, more studies should be conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. In this review, we discussed the most relevant articles to find out the role of A. sativum in different components of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Because human reports are rare, further studies are required to establish the clinical value of A. sativum in metabolic syndrome.

The effect of garlic tablet on pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal osteoporotic women: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is one of the important causes of osteoporosis which results from estrogen deficiency. In addition, some clinical and experimental evidence indicates that there is an association between increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine activity and postmenopausal bone loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of garlic tablet on pro-inflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. METHODS: The present study was a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial in Yazd conducted during November 2009 until July 2010. The sample included 44 postmenopausal osteoporotic women who were randomly assigned into two groups: the garlic group (GG) and the placebo group (PG). Participants in GG took two garlic tablets daily for 1 month and the participants in PG took placebo tablets in the same manner. Serum interlukin-1, interlukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured using the ELISA method before and after the intervention. Also, 24-hour dietary recall was recorded for estimation of daily intake of some nutrients. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between interlukin-1 and interlukin-6 in the two groups before and after the intervention. The mean of TNF-α did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups before and after the intervention, but it was significantly reduced by about 47% (from 31.14±50.53 to 19.33±22.19 ng/ml, P-value = 0.05) in GG after the intervention, However, no significant difference was seen in PG. CONCLUSIONS: The present study produced some evidence for an immunomodulatory effect of garlic, as well as the modulation of cytokine production.

Cholesterol-lowering effect of allicin on hypercholesterolemic ICR mice.

Allicin was discussed as an active compound with regard to the beneficial effects of garlic in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the cholesterol-lowering properties of allicin. In order to examine its effects on hypercholesterolemia in male ICR mice, this compound with doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg body weight was given orally daily for 12 weeks. Changes in body weight and daily food intake were measured regularly during the experimental period. Final contents of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and hepatic cholesterol storage were determined. Following a 12-week experimental period, the body weights of allicin-fed mice were less than those of control mice on a high-cholesterol diet by 38.24 ± 7.94% (P < 0.0001) with 5 mg/kg allicin, 39.28 ± 5.03% (P < 0.0001) with 10 mg/kg allicin, and 41.18 ± 5.00% (P < 0.0001) with 20 mg/kg allicin, respectively. A decrease in daily food consumption was also noted in most of the treated animals. Meanwhile, allicin showed a favorable effect in reducing blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels and caused a significant decrease in lowering the hepatic cholesterol storage. Accordingly, both in vivo and in vitro results demonstrated a potential value of allicin as a pronounced cholesterol-lowering candidate, providing protection against the onset of atherosclerosis.

[The utilization of omegalicin in treatment of psoriasis].

The correcting action of omegalicin against the background of conventional treatment of psoriasis was investigated. It is established that omegalicin moderately increases the generation of active forms of oxygen needed to suppress the processes of proliferation at the expense of changing the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.

Sulfuryl fluoride as a quarantine treatment for emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in ash logs.

Fraxinus spp. logs infested with Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) were fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride (SF) in 432-liter chambers at 15.6 and 21.1 degrees C for 24 and 48 h. Concentration x time (CxT) exposures (g-h/m3) of SF obtained were 3,382 (24-h exposure) and 5,466 (48-h exposure) at 15.6 degrees C and 3,329 (24 h) and 4,385 (48-h exposure) at 21.1 degrees C after doses of 144, 128, 128, and 104 g/m3, respectively. After aeration, logs were placed in modified fiber drums for 8 wk to capture emerging beetles. No adults emerged from any of the fumigated logs, whereas 933 adults emerged from control logs. Eggs were fumigated at CxT exposures similar to log fumigations (3,240 and 4,262 g-h/m3, respectively) and again at doses 16 g/m3 lower, at 21.1 degrees C for 24 and 48 h. No hatch was observed at CxT dosages > 4,262 g-h/m3. No larvae continued development on artificial diet after hatching from eggs fumigated at all tested dosages, whereas 10 control larvae developed to instar I or II. Chamber fumigations with 31 and 46% load factors provided additional sorption and concentration data. A. planipennis-infested logs in tarped, 149.1-m3 cargo containers were fumigated at dosages used in successful trials. Logs were monitored for 8 wk for adult emergence. There was no adult emergence, but 621 adults emerged from a similar quantity of control logs. CxT dosages of SF for 100% control of A. planipennis at 15.6 and 21.1 degrees C for 24- and 48-h exposure can be obtained under commercial fumigation conditions. A quarantine treatment schedule for SF is proposed.

[Effect of local application of allicinvia gastroscopy on cell proliferation and apoptosis of progressive gastric carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of local application of allicin via gastroscopy on progressive gastric carcinoma, and to investigate its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Eighty patients with progressive gastric adenocarcinoma, whose diagnosis was confirmed by gastroscopy and pathological examination, were assigned to 2 groups, 40 in each group. Forty-eight hours before operation, allicin was infused via gastroscopy to the lesion region of patients in the allicin group, and normal saline was infused instead to those in the control group. The gastric carcinoma tissue gotten from gastrectomy was taken to determine the percentage of cells in various cell cycle phases ( G0/ G1, S and G2/M), the cell apoptosis rate, proliferation index value and apoptosis related gene protein such as Fas, Bax and Bcl-2 by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the allicin group, the cell apoptosis rate was 9.60 +/- 1.52%, the percentage of cell in G0/G1 phase was 72.12 +/- 8.35%, in G2/M phase 9.54 +/- 3.20%, and PI 27.80 +/- 8.35, while in the control group, the corresponding data was 2.20 +/- 0.58%, 69.56 +/- 5.15%, 13.20 +/- 3.05%, and 30.40 +/- 5.15, respectively, and significant difference in all the 4 indexes could be found between the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, allicin showed effects in up-regulating the protein expressions of apoptosis promoting gene Bax and apoptosis initiating gene Fas (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and down-regulating that of anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Local application of allicin via gastroscopy can inhibit the cell growth and proliferation of progressive gastric carcinoma, and can also promote gastric carcinoma cell apoptosis.

Effects of allicin supplementation on plasma markers of exercise-induced muscle damage, IL-6 and antioxidant capacity.

To investigate the effects of allicin supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and antioxidative capacity, a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in well-trained athletes. Subjects were randomly assigned to an allicin supplementation group (AS group) and a control group, and received either allicin or placebo for 14 days before and 2 days after a downhill treadmill run. Plasma creatine kinase (CK), muscle-specific creatine kinase (CK-MM), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-6, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), and perceived muscle soreness were measured pre and post exercise. AS group had significantly lower plasma levels of CK, CK-MM and IL-6, and reduced perceived muscle soreness after exercise, when compared with the control group. AS group also demonstrated a trend toward reducing plasma concentration of LDH after exercise (P = 0.08), although not statistically significant. Allicin supplementation induced a higher value of TAC at rest, and this higher value was maintained 48 h after exercise, however, there was no difference in SOD values after exercise between the two groups. The results suggested that allicin might be a potential agent to reduce EIMD. Further studies concerning anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of allicin on EIMD are needed.

Therapeutic actions of allylmercaptocaptopril and captopril in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension often coexists with hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance in metabolic syndrome. Allylmercaptocaptopril is a conjugate of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril with allicin, an active principle in garlic with multiple beneficial actions on metabolic-syndrome abnormalities. We sought to test the hypothesis that the conjugation of allicin to captopril may confer additional therapeutic actions in metabolic disease. METHODS: We compared allylmercaptocaptopril (53.5 mg/kg/day orally for 60 days) to an equimolar dose of captopril (40 mg/kg/day) in the spontaneously hypertensive, obese rat (SHROB) model. RESULTS: Allylmercaptocaptopril prevented progressive weight gain, without a detectable effect on food intake. Both captopril and allylmercaptocaptopril lowered blood pressure, but allylmercaptocaptopril was more effective. Allylmercaptocaptopril, but not captopril, improved cardiac hypertrophy, as indicated by heart weight and ventricular-wall thickness. Allylmercaptocaptopril improved, whereas captopril impaired, oral glucose tolerance after a fast. Triglycerides were decreased by both captopril and allylmercaptocaptopril. Total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol were reduced by captopril but not by allylmercaptocaptopril. The SHROB rats developed severe glomerulosclerosis and renal failure. Allylmercaptocaptopril showed significant nephro-protection, as indicated by reductions in urinary protein loss, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio, and plasma creatinine. Captopril showed the same trends and also prevented the decline of creatinine clearance. Finally, both allylmercaptocaptopril and captopril reduced the basal level of lipolysis in isolated abdominal adipocytes, and restored the response to catecholamine stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Both captopril and allylmercaptocaptopril are effective in attenuating multiple abnormalities of metabolic syndrome. Allylmercaptocaptopril may have additional effectiveness on improving glucose tolerance, further lowering blood pressure, reducing cardiac hypertrophy, preventing weight gain, and protecting against renal disease.

Efficacy of allicin, the reactive molecule of garlic, in inhibiting Aspergillus spp. in vitro, and in a murine model of disseminated aspergillosis.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of allicin, the biologically active compound responsible for the antimicrobial activities of freshly crushed garlic cloves, in inhibiting Aspergillus spp. in vitro and in a murine model of disseminated aspergillosis. METHODS: Pure allicin was prepared by reacting synthetic alliin with a stabilized preparation of the garlic enzyme alliinase. We tested the in vitro efficacy of pure allicin against 31 clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. using a microdilution broth method and following the NCCLS guidelines (document M-38P). Subsequently, the in vivo efficacy of allicin was tested in immunocompetent mice infected intravenously (iv) with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. Allicin (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered iv once daily for 5 days post-infection or orally (po) (9 mg/kg body weight) for 5 days pre-infection and 10 days post-infection. No ill effects were observed in allicin-treated uninfected mice. RESULTS: The in vitro MICs and MFCs of allicin were between 8 and 32 mg/L, indicating that allicin in its pure form may be an effective fungicide in vitro. Time-kill studies indicate that allicin exerts its fungicidal activity within 2-12 h of administration in vitro. Allicin treatment significantly prolonged survival of infected mice (P < 0.01) from mean survival time (MST) = 7.7 days in untreated mice to MST = 21.3 and 13.9 days for allicin iv and po treated mice, respectively. Allicin iv treatment led to a significant (P < 0.001) 10-fold reduction in fungal burden in A. fumigatus infected mice as evaluated by quantitative fungal cultures of kidney tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS: These favourable results, despite the short half-life of this compound in vivo, support further studies of controlled sustained release or more prolonged administration of allicin as a treatment for aspergillosis.

Growth and health of Holstein calves fed milk replacers supplemented with antibiotics or Enteroguard.

Forty-five Holstein calves were fed milk replacers containing either antibiotics [MRA (oxytetracycline at 138 mg/kg and neomycin at 276 mg/kg), n = 22)] or Enteroguard [MRE, a blend of fructooligosaccharides, allicin, and gut-active microbes at (129 mg/kg, n = 23)] from birth to 5 wk of age to compare effects on average daily gain and on incidence of scours. Performance was evaluated by measuring weight gain, feed efficiency, and fecal scores. The overall body weight gains and severity of scours were not different between treatments, nor were there differences in starter intake or mean body weight gain. During wk 2, the average gain of calves fed MRA was less than that of calves fed MRE (0.07 vs. 0.09 kg/d, P = 0.09), and greater during wk 5 (0.62 vs. 0.51 kg/d, P < 0.01); however, total gain for calves fed MRE was not different from calves fed MRA. Likewise, average feed efficiencies (gain/dry matter intake) were not different. Severity of scours, as measured by fecal scores, and concentrations of serum proteins, an indirect measure of immunoglobulins, were similar for calves fed MRA and MRE. The results suggest that antibiotics in milk replacers can be replaced with compounds such as fructooligosaccharides, probiotics, and allicin to obtain similar calf performance.

Altered cytokeratin expression during chemoprevention of experimental hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis by garlic.

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins (also known as keratins (K)) are members of the family of intermediate filaments and form major components of the mammalian epithelial cell cytoskeleton. Cytokeratins have emerged as reliable cellular markers of oral cancer development and chemoprevention because of their abundance, stability and high antigenicity. METHODS: We investigated the effect of aqueous garlic extract on cytokeratin expression during 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis. Hamsters were divided into four groups of six animals. Animals in group 1 were painted with a 0.5% solution of DMBA in liquid paraffin, on the right buccal pouches, three times a week for 14 weeks. Group 2 animals were painted with DMBA as in group 1 and also received 250 mg/kg body weight aqueous garlic extract orally on alternate days to the DMBA application. Group 3 animals received garlic extract only, as in group 2. Group 4 animals received neither DMBA nor garlic extract and served as the control. The hamsters were killed after an experimental period of 14 weeks. RESULTS: Cytokeratin expression was studied using human monoclonal antibodies AE1 and AE3, which react with type I and II keratins. In DMBA-induced squamous cell carcinomas, decreased expression of high molecular weight keratins was observed. Administration of garlic extract to animals painted with DMBA suppressed HBP carcinomas and restored normal cytokeratin expression. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that inhibition of HBP carcinogenesis by garlic may be due to its regulatory effects on differentiation, tumour invasiveness, migratory and metastatic potential. We suggest that one of the mechanisms of tumour inhibition by garlic is an influence on cellular differentiation.

Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey.

One hundred forty-six volunteers were randomized to receive a placebo or an allicin-containing garlic supplement, one capsule daily, over a 12-week period between November and February. They used a five-point scale to assess their health and recorded any common cold infections and symptoms in a daily diary. The active-treatment group had significantly fewer colds than the placebo group (24 vs 65, P < .001). The placebo group, in contrast, recorded significantly more days challenged virally (366 vs 111, P < .05) and a significantly longer duration of symptoms (5.01 vs 1.52 days, P < .001). Consequently, volunteers in the active group were less likely to get a cold and recovered faster if infected. Volunteers taking placebo were much more likely to get more than one cold over the treatment period. An allicin-containing supplement can prevent attack by the common cold virus.

Effect of allicin from garlic powder on serum lipids and blood pressure in rats fed with a high cholesterol diet.

The use of fresh aqueous garlic extract is known to be effective in reducing thromboxane formation by platelets in both in vivo and in vitro animal models of thrombosis. In the present study, we studied the effect of Lichtwer garlic powder (containing 1.3% alliin equivalent to 0.6% allicin) on the serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, protein, and systolic blood pressure in rats fed with a high cholesterol diet. Experimental rats were fed a 2% high cholesterol diet with and without garlic powder for 6 weeks. Control rats were fed a normal diet. The aqueous garlic powder extract was given orally to rats on a daily basis. It was observed that cholesterol-fed animals had a significant increase in serum cholesterol compared to the control group of rats fed on a normal diet. However, when the rats were fed with a high cholesterol diet mixed with garlic powder, there was a significant reduction in their serum cholesterol levels compared with the group which were on a diet containing high cholesterol without garlic powder. Serum triglyceride levels were also significantly lowered by garlic powder when compared to control and high cholesterol diet group rats. The blood pressure of the high cholesterol diet animals was significantly higher compared to the animals receiving the control diet. The blood pressure of the animals receiving garlic powder and high cholesterol diet was significantly lower as compared to the high cholesterol and control diet group. No significant changes were observed in the serum glucose and protein in all of the rats. These results show that garlic is beneficial in reducing blood cholesterol, triglycerides levels and systolic blood pressure in hypercholesterolemic rats. Our experimental results show that garlic may beneficially affect two risk factors for atherosclerosis--hyperlipidemia and hypertension.