In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Utilizing Extracts From Allium sativum.

INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of this study was to develop an environmentally friendly and efficient method for synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), utilizing extracts from Allium sativum (garlic) plants, characterizing the synthesized ZnO NPs using various analytical techniques, and assessing their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The synthesis process involved utilizing extracts from garlic plants to create ZnO NPs. The NPs were subjected to comprehensive characterization through UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Antibacterial properties were assessed against different microbial strains. In vitro antioxidant properties were evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays. Bioactive compounds in the synthesized NPs were also identified. RESULTS: Analysis of the UV-vis spectrum confirmed the synthesis of ZnO NPs with an approximate size of 280 nm, as indicated by the absorption peak in the surface plasmon resonance band. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. SEM analysis determined the dimensions of the NPs to be around 11 nm. XRD patterns exhibited distinct Bragg reflections, confirming specific crystallographic planes. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated a reduction in absorbance at 517 nm and 734 nm, indicating antioxidant activity. Antibacterial testing revealed inhibition zones against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans,and Enterococcus faecalis. CONCLUSION: The study successfully synthesized ZnO NPs using an eco-friendly method with garlic plant extracts. Characterization techniques confirmed the structural and chemical properties of the NPs. The synthesized NPs exhibited antioxidant and antibacterial activities, showcasing their potential for various applications. The identification of bioactive compounds further contributes to the understanding of the biological properties of the synthesized NPs.

Green synthesis of zinc oxide/Allium sativum nano-composite and its efficacy against murine cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidiosis is a global health problem threats life of immunocompromised patients. Allium sativum (A. sativum) is one of the therapeutic options for cryptosporidiosis. This study develops green synthesized ZnO-NPs based on A. sativum extract, and assesses its therapeutic application in treating experimental cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice. FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, and zeta analyzer were used for characterization of bio ZnO-NPs. The morphology of prepared materials appeared as sponge with many pores on the whole surface that allows the feasibility of bio ZnO-NPs for different biological activities. Its structural analysis was highly stabilized with negative charge surface which indicated for well distribution into the parasite matrix. Twenty-five immunosuppressed Cryptosporidium parvum infected mice, classified into 5 groups were sacrificed at 21th day after infection with evaluation of parasitological, histopathological, oxidative, and proinflammatory biomarkers. Treated mice groups with 50 and 100 mg/kg of AS/ZnO-NPs showed a highly significant decline (79.9% and 83.23%, respectively) in the total number of expelled oocysts. Both doses revealed actual amelioration of the intestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary histopathological lesions. They also significantly produced an increase in GSH values and improved the changes in NO and MDA levels, and showed high anti-inflammatory properties. This study is the first to report green synthesis of ZnO/A. sativum nano-composite as an effective therapy in treating cryptosporidiosis which gave better results than using A. sativum alone. It provides an economical and environment-friendly approach towards novel delivery synthesis for antiparasitic applications. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Green synthesis of ZnO-NPs was developed using A. sativum extract. The morphology of prepared ZnO-NPs appeared as sponge with many pores on SEM The study evaluates its therapeutic efficacy against murine cryptosporidiosis The green synthesized ZnO-NPs significantly reduced percent of oocyst shedding, improved the pathological changes, and showed high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials.

Dietary effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Allium sativum on growth, antioxidant status, hepatic and intestinal histoarchitecture, expression of growth- and immune-related genes, and resistance of Oreochromis niloticus to Aeromonas sobria.

This study investigated the benefits of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and/or garlic, Allium sativum supplementation in diets of Nile tilapia with regard to growth, antioxidant status, hepatic and intestinal histoarchitecture, expression of growth- and immune-related genes, and resistance to Aeromonas sobria infection. Fish (with an initial weight of 9.43 ± 0.08 g) were allocated to twelve hapas, organized into four triplicate treatment groups defined as control (no supplementation), yeast (4 g/kg diet), garlic (30 g/kg diet), and a mixture of both. This trial continued over a 60-day feeding period. Results revealed that combined treatment (yeast + garlic) demonstrated the most promising outcomes regarding growth, with significantly higher final body weights, weight gains, and specific growth rates compared to other groups. Moreover, this combination enhanced hepatic antioxidant status, as evidenced by elevated levels of reduced glutathione and activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, reflecting improved defense against oxidative stress. Histological assessments of the livers and intestines demonstrated structural enhancements in yeast and garlic treatments, suggesting improvements in organ health. In comparison to the control, the gene expression analyses unveiled increased expression of growth-related (igf-1 and ghr1) and immune-related (il-10, lyz, and hep) genes in the test groups, indicating a possible reinforcement of the growth and immune responses. The combined treatment also showed the highest resistance to A. sobria infection, as evidenced by improved survival rates and lower mortality compared with the other groups. These findings highlight the benefits of a combination of both yeast and garlic as a dietary supplementation regimen. In conclusion, this study suggests that the combined treatment regimen could be considered an effective strategy to promote the health and productivity of Nile tilapia under production conditions.

Whole-genome sequencing of four culturable endophytic bacteria from German hardneck garlic cloves (Allium sativum L.).

We present the whole-genome sequence of four bacterial endophytes associated with German hardneck garlic cloves (Allium sativum L.). Among them, Agrobacterium fabrum and Pantoea agglomerans are associated with plant protection, while Rahnella perminowiae and Stenotrophomonas lactitubi are pathogens. These data will facilitate the identification of genes to improve garlic.

Effect of Allium spices (garlic and onion) on the bioaccessibility of iron from Moringa oleifera leaves.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of garlic and onion, two Allium spices rich in sulfur compounds, on the bioaccessibility of iron from Moringa oleifera leaves. We first quantified anti-nutritional factors in various cooked mixtures of Moringa oleifera leaves and spices, with increasing level of incorporation of garlic or onion. We then assessed the iron bioaccessibility of the various mixtures using a simulated in vitro digestion method. Finally, we studied the speciation of bioaccessible iron. Total phenols contents ranging from 801.44 to 903.07 and from 869.78 to 990.72 mg/100 g of dry matter in garlic and onion mixtures, respectively, increased (p < .05) with the level of incorporation of spices. Phytates contents followed the same tendency with values ranging from 1.84 to 2.12 and from 1.75 to 2.02 mg/100 g of dry matter in garlic and onion mixtures, respectively. Although the presence of garlic and onion significantly reduced (p < .05) the total iron content of the mixtures (11.56-11.96 mg/100 g of dry matter), we noticed that bioaccessible iron was significantly higher (p < .05) in spiced mixtures (36.35%-48.40%) compared to the control (23.28%), with the greatest amount found in the mixture containing 10 g of onion. The predominant specie of bioaccessible iron was organic iron, whose amounts in the spiced mixtures (0.59-0.69 mg/L) were all significantly higher (p < .05) than in the control (0.32 mg/L). Globally, the presence of spices produced no significant variation (p > .05) in amounts of ferrous iron, the major inorganic specie of bioaccessible iron. The use of garlic and onion as ingredients could help improving the iron status of populations consuming iron-rich leafy vegetables.

Exploration of Fingerprints and Data Mining-based Prediction of Some Bioactive Compounds from Allium sativum as Histone Deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) is an important member of the class IIa family of histone deacetylases. It is well established that over-expression of HDAC9 causes various types of cancers including gastric cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoblastic leukaemia, etc. The important role of HDAC9 is also recognized in the development of bone, cardiac muscles, and innate immunity. Thus, it will be beneficial to find out the important structural attributes of HDAC9 inhibitors for developing selective HDAC9 inhibitors with higher potency. METHODS: The classification QSAR-based methods namely Bayesian classification and recursive partitioning method were applied to a dataset consisting of HADC9 inhibitors. The structural features strongly suggested that sulphur-containing compounds can be a good choice for HDAC9 inhibition. For this reason, these models were applied further to screen some natural compounds from Allium sativum. The screened compounds were further accessed for the ADME properties and docked in the homology-modelled structure of HDAC9 in order to find important amino acids for the interaction. The best-docked compound was considered for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. RESULTS: The classification models have identified good and bad fingerprints for HDAC9 inhibition. The screened compounds like ajoene, 1,2 vinyl dithiine, diallyl disulphide and diallyl trisulphide had been identified as compounds having potent HDAC9 inhibitory activity. The results from ADME and molecular docking study of these compounds show the binding interaction inside the active site of the HDAC9. The best-docked compound ajoene shows satisfactory results in terms of different validation parameters of MD simulation study. CONCLUSION: This in-silico modelling study has identified the natural potential lead (s) from Allium sativum. Specifically, the ajoene with the best in-silico features can be considered for further in-vitro and in-vivo investigation to establish as potential HDAC9 inhibitors.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine-B and Water Densification via Eco-Friendly Synthesized Cr2O3 and Ag@Cr2O3 Using Garlic Peel Aqueous Extract.

The purification and densification of wastewater play an important role in water recycling, especially if the materials used in water recycling are other types of recycled waste. Therefore, considering this view in this study, the biosynthesis of silver-decorated chromium oxide nanoparticles utilizing a wasted Allium sativum (garlic) peel extract is investigated. The aqueous extract of garlic peel (GPE) was treated with silver nitrate, chromium nitrate, and a mixture of silver nitrate and chromium nitrate to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-garlic), chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3-garlic), and silver-decorated chromium oxide nanoparticles (Ag@Cr2O3-garlic), respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were elucidated via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectra (FT-IR), absorption spectra (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Antimicrobial activity studies were conducted against waterborne germs, bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and fungal strains (Alternaria porri, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fuserium oxysporum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum) and showed significant levels of antimicrobial activity. The results revealed that Ag@Cr2O3 significantly improved antimicrobial activity due to their synergistic effect. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles was assessed using Rhodamine B dye (5 ppm) under solar irradiation. Cr2O3-garlic exhibited the best activity as a photocatalyst among the studied nanoparticles, with 97.5% degradation efficiency under optimal conditions.

Potential Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) on the Performance, Immunity, Gut Health, Anti-Oxidant Status, Blood Parameters, and Intestinal Microbiota of Poultry: An Updated Comprehensive Review.

The use of antibiotics as growth promoters or for the prevention of some poultry diseases has faced global concern and serious criticism. Their addition to poultry feed has shown hazardous effects, including the development of antimicrobial resistance and a potentially harmful effect on human health. To eliminate these threats, there is increasing interest in natural alternatives. Plant derivatives such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its derivatives are presently extensively used in the poultry production system. The dietary supplementation of broilers and layers with garlic induced improvement in the production parameters, carcass quality, and intestinal integrity. The modulation of the immune response against some important viral diseases has resulted from the supplementation of poultry with garlic. Moreover, garlic has been shown to modulate gut health through antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. Treatment with garlic can also mitigate oxidative stress and reduce free-radical production. The reduction of cholesterol levels and improvement of some liver and blood parameters were also reported following the dietary inoculation of garlic. This review was designed to investigate the influence of garlic as a dietary additive on the performance, immunity, gut health, anti-oxidant status, blood parameters, and intestinal microbiota of poultry.

Homeopathic preparation of Allium sativum abrogates OxLDL mediated atherogenic events in macrophages: An invitro and in silico approach.

BACKGROUND: Oxidized LDL (OxLDL), the key player in atherogenesis modulates endothelial dysfunction, initiates monocyte recruitment, accentuates foam cell formation, and flares up inflammatory and apoptotic events. Even though homeopathic preparation of Allium sativum has been proved to be an anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-atherogenic agent, its mechanism of action on abrogating OxLDL mediated foam cell formation is yet to be explored. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to bring out the role of homeopathic preparation of Allium sativum in curbing OxLDL mediated cellular inflammation in IC-21 cells exposed with OxLDL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OxLDL was used to induce oxidative damage in the IC-21 macrophage cells. Assessment of inflammatory cytokines, localization of NFκB, detection of apoptosis and the in silico analysis were performed in this study. RESULTS: The current study portrays the efficacy of homeopathy medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, in reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokines and its mRNA expression, suppressing the activity of NFκB and preventing apoptosis in OxLDL treated IC-21 cells. CONCLUSION: To conclude, homeopathic preparation of Allium sativum 6C and 30C potencies are capable of controlling the transcriptional activity of NFκB and apoptosis in IC-21 cells exposed to OxLDL. These results implicate that Allium sativum homeopathic drug can be used as anti-inflammatory agent in reducing atherogenic events as it is capable of preventing OxLDL-mediated injury to macrophages.

The Garlic Compound, Diallyl Trisulfide, Attenuates Benzo[a]Pyrene-Induced Precancerous Effect through Its Antioxidant Effect, AhR Inhibition, and Increased DNA Repair in Human Breast Epithelial Cells.

Exposure to B[a]P, the most characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, significantly increases breast cancer risk. Our lab has previously reported that diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a garlic organosulfur compound (OSC) with chemopreventive and cell cycle arrest properties, reduces lipid peroxides and DNA damage in normal breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells. In this study, we evaluated the ability of DATS to block the B[a]P-induced initiation of carcinogenesis in MCF-10A cells by examining changes in proliferation, clonogenic formation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and protein expression of ARNT/HIF-1ß, CYP1A1, and DNA POLß. The study results indicate that B[a]P increased proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels, as well as increasing the protein expression of ARNT/HIF-1ß and CYP1A1 compared to the control. Conversely, DATS/B[a]P co-treatment (CoTx) inhibited cell proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels compared to B[a]P alone. Treatment with DATS significantly inhibited (p < 0.0001) AhR expression, implicated in the development and progression of breast cancer. The CoTx also attenuated all the above-mentioned B[a]P-induced changes in protein expression. At the same time, it increased DNA POLß protein expression, which indicates increased DNA repair, thus causing a chemopreventive effect. These results provide evidence for the chemopreventive effects of DATS in breast cancer prevention.

Effects of diallyl disulfide administration on insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed mice.

OBJECTIVES: Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a natural organosulfur compound found in garlic and related plants with various pharmacologic effects. However, whether DADS improves obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DADS on systemic IR in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. METHODS: To induce obesity, 8-wk-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% fat/kcal). The mice were assigned to three weight-matched groups: control (CON, n = 8), low-dose DADS (DADS-L, n = 8), and high-dose DADS (DADS-H, n = 9). The treated mice were orally administered DADS (25 or 100 mg/kg) 5 d/wk for 8 wk. At 15 wk of age, an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed. Twenty-four hours after the final administration of DADS, epididymal fat and the liver were sampled after a 5-h fast. RESULTS: DADS administration significantly attenuated body and fat weight gains during the experimental period. Additionally, systemic IR, as evaluated by ITT, was significantly improved by DADS administration in a dose-dependent manner. High-dose DADS administration significantly decreased liver triacylglycerol levels. Moreover, high-dose DADS administration decreased the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and significantly increased heat shock protein 72 expression in the liver. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that DADS administration alleviated systemic IR in obese mice. This may be associated with decreased hepatic fat accumulation and a heat shock protein 72-mediated decrease in JNK activity in the liver.

Advances in the study of vascular related protective effect of garlic (Allium sativum) extract and compounds.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a functional food containing multiple bioactive compounds that find widespread applications in culinary and medicinal practices. It consists of multiple chemical components, including allicin and alliin. This article offers a comprehensive review of the protective effects of garlic extracts and their active constituents on the vascular system. In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that garlic extracts and their active ingredients possess various bioactive properties. These substances demonstrate beneficial effects on blood vessels by demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, inhibiting lipid accumulation and migration, preventing lipid peroxidation, promoting angiogenesis, reducing platelet aggregation, enhancing endothelial function, and inhibiting endothelial cell apoptosis. In clinical studies, garlic and its extracts have demonstrated their efficacy in managing vascular system diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels. In summary, these studies highlight the potential therapeutic roles and underlying mechanisms of garlic and its constituents in managing conditions like diabetes, atherosclerosis, ischemic diseases, and other vascular disorders.

Deprivation of Sexual Reproduction during Garlic Domestication and Crop Evolution.

Garlic, originating in the mountains of Central Asia, has undergone domestication and subsequent widespread introduction to diverse regions. Human selection for adaptation to various climates has resulted in the development of numerous garlic varieties, each characterized by specific morphological and physiological traits. However, this process has led to a loss of fertility and seed production in garlic crops. In this study, we conducted morpho-physiological and transcriptome analyses, along with whole-genome resequencing of 41 garlic accessions from different regions, in order to assess the variations in reproductive traits among garlic populations. Our findings indicate that the evolution of garlic crops was associated with mutations in genes related to vernalization and the circadian clock. The decline in sexual reproduction is not solely attributed to a few mutations in specific genes, but is correlated with extensive alterations in the genetic regulation of the annual cycle, stress adaptations, and environmental requirements. The regulation of flowering ability, stress response, and metabolism occurs at both the genetic and transcriptional levels. We conclude that the migration and evolution of garlic crops involve substantial and diverse changes across the entire genome landscape. The construction of a garlic pan-genome, encompassing genetic diversity from various garlic populations, will provide further insights for research into and the improvement of garlic crops.

Lead optimization of Allium sativum L. compounds for PTP1B inhibition in diabetes treatment: in silico molecular docking and dynamics simulation.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has been identified as a promising drug target for the development of diabetes medications via an inhibition mechanism. Using a computational approach, this study investigates the binding mechanism of lead optimized natural compounds from Allium sativum against the human PTP1B. The molecular docking, induced-fit docking, and binding free energy calculations were analyzed using Schrödinger Suite 2021-2. MD simulation, and gene enrichment analysis was achieved via the Desmond module of Schrödinger to identify best compounds as inhibitors against PTP1B in diabetes management. The docking scores of the lead optimized compounds were good; 5280443_121 from apigenin had the best binding score of -9.345 kcal/mol, followed by 5280443_129 with a binding score of -9.200 kcal/mol, and 5280863_177 from kaempferol had a binding score of -8.528 kcal/mol, followed by 5280863_462 with a binding score of -8.338 kcal/mol. The top two lead optimized compounds, docked better than the standard PTP1B inhibitor (-7.155 kcal/mol), suggesting them as potent inhibitors than the standard PTP1B inhibitor. The outcomes of the induced-fit docking were consistent with the increased binding affinity used in the Glide computation of the five conformed poses between the derivatives (5280443_121, 5280443_129, 5280863_177, and 5280863_462) and the protein (PTP1B). Based on the binding fee energies (MM-GBSA), the lead optimized compounds from kaempferol exhibited more stability than those from apigenin. In the pharmacophore development, all the models exhibit good results across the different metrics. The best performing model with five of five matches on a 1.34 and 1.33 phase score was DDRRR_1, DDRRR_2, and DDDRR_1. The average BEDROC value (= 160.9) was 1, while the average EF 1% value across all models was 101. There were no substantial conformational modifications during the MD simulation process, indicating that the apigenin derivatives (5280443_121) was stable in the protein's active site in 100 ns. IGF1R, EGFR, INSR, PTPN1, SRC, JAK2, GRB2, BCAR1, and IRS1 are among the 11 potential targets found in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) of A. sativum against PTP1B that may be important in A. sativum's defense against PTP1B. Sixty-four (64) pathways were found by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis to be potentially involved in the anti-PTP1B of A. sativum. Consequently, data obtained indicates the effectiveness of the in silico studies in identifying potential lead compounds in A. sativum against PTP1B target.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Deployment of in-silico analysis to reveal the antibacterial profiles of Allium sativum against Aeromonas hydrophila.

The key challenges in aquaculture are the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in fish cultivation due to the frequent use of antibiotics. Over the past three decades, this led to a major threat in the persistence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative bacterium, a common causative agent of motile bacterial septicemia in fisheries. Combining these two key factors of the presented narrative, the essential type II topoisomerase enzyme 'DNA gyrase' (encoded by the gyrA and gyrB genes) as a potential drug target in Aeromonas hydrophila was taken, retrieve its sequence from UniProtKB (Id-A0KKQ2), constructs the 3-D structure using SWISS-MODEL (in absence of the experimental structure), and performs an in-silico screening of selected drug-like compounds (25 antibacterial phytochemicals) most of which are bioactive compounds of A. sativum through molecular docking. Quercetin a derivative of A. sativum was observed as a more potent drug molecule than other studied molecules based on ligand binding energy as docking score -7.812, showed highly encouraging results, supported by a study using structural dynamics of the receptor-ligand complex for a duration of 100 ns by Molecular Dynamic Simulations and confirm binding stability with MM-GBSA calculations. This study also provides theoretical grounds for drug discovery against other pathogenic bacteria posing threats to the ecosystem. Switching to herbal products is the best way to combat the plurality of problems to avoid seen or unseen post-treatment side effects.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Pathogen Eradication in Garlic in the Phytobiome Context: Should We Aim for Complete Cleaning?

Global food production is challenged by plant pathogens that cause significant crop losses. Fungi, bacteria, and viruses have long threatened sustainable and profitable agriculture. The danger is even higher in vegetatively propagated horticultural crops, such as garlic. Currently, quarantine, rouging infected plants, and control of natural vectors are used as the main means of disease and pest control in garlic crops. Agricultural biotechnology, meristem-tip culture, and cryotherapy offer solutions for virus eradication and for the multiplication of 'clean stocks', but at the same time, impact the symbiotic and beneficial components of the garlic microbiome. Our research involves the first metatranscriptomic analysis of the microbiome of garlic bulb tissue, PCR analyses, and a biological assay of endophytes and pathogens. We have demonstrated that in vitro sanitation methods, such as shoot tip culture or cryotherapy can alter the garlic microbiome. Shoot tip culture proved ineffective in virus elimination, but reduced bacterial load and eliminated fungal infections. Conversely, cryotherapy was efficient in virus eradication but demolished other components of the garlic microbiome. Garlic plants sanitized by cryotherapy exhibited a lower survival rate, and a longer in vitro regeneration period. The question arises whether total eradication of viruses, at the expense of other microflora, is necessary, or if a partial reduction in the pathogenic load would suffice for sanitized garlic production. We explore this question from both scientific and commercial perspectives.

Evaluating the Influence of Water Scarcity on the Host Response of Garlic to the Stem and Bulb Nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci.

Ditylenchus dipsaci is a plant-parasitic nematode with a great economic impact on bulbous crops, including garlic (Allium sativum L.), and is distributed worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, garlic was a rainfed crop in Spain, but irrigated areas have increased during the last few decades. However, the expected climatic conditions, with longer and more intense droughts, will make it necessary to reduce the water supply to garlic crops. This poses the urgent need to select garlic cultivars more tolerant to water scarcity and that are also more resistant to plant pathogenic organisms. The aim of this work was to analyze the influence of water stress on the host response of garlic plants to D. dipsaci. The specific objectives were to evaluate the level of nematode infestation in plants from four garlic genotypes treated with a reduced irrigation regime and compare them with those of control plants not subjected to water stress. The observed results were correlated with changes in the bulb and root development, as well as in the physiological parameters (total chlorophyll concentration and proline accumulation). The effects were different depending on whether the plants were subjected to water stress before or after nematode inoculation, as well as whether the water stress was continuous or discontinuous. Garlic inter-cultivar variability also affected the obtained results.

Allium sativum Essential Oil Supplementation Reverses the Hepatic Inflammation, Genotoxicity and Apoptotic Effects in Swiss Albino Mice Intoxicated with the Lead Nitrate.

Prolonged lead (Pb) exposure impairs human health due to its interference with physiological and biochemical processes. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate natural therapeutics to alleviate Pb-induced intoxication. In the current investigation, essential oil extracted from the fresh bulbs of Allium sativum was considered as a natural remedy. Initially, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of A. sativum essential oil (ASEO) were explored. The results reported that ASEO exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, an in vivo study was conducted to elucidate its preventive role against Lead-nitrate (LN)-induced hepatic damage in Swiss albino mice. The experimental mice were allocated into six groups: Control, LN-intoxicated group (50 mg/kg), LN + ASEO (50 mg/kg), LN + ASEO (80 mg/kg), LN + Silymarin (25 mg/kg), and LN + vehicle oil control group. The entire duration of the study was of 30 days. From the results, it was determined that LN exposure elevated the Pb content in hepatic tissues which subsequently increased the serum biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines (NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6) as well as apoptotic factors (caspase-3, BAX), all of which contribute to DNA damage. Meanwhile, it reduced anti-inflammatory (IFN-γ and IL-10) and anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2). Furthermore, Pb accumulation in hepatic tissues changed the histological architecture, which was linked to necrosis, central vein dilation, inflammatory cell infiltration and Kupffer cell activation. In contrast to this, ASEO administration decreased the Pb content, which in turn reduced the level of serum biomarkers, inflammatory and apoptotic factors. At the same time, it increased the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic factors, thereby reduced DNA damage and restored the hepatic histology. In conclusion, exhaustive research is of the utmost demand to elucidate the precise defense mechanisms of ASEO against LN-induced hepatotoxicity.

Effect of Allium sativum consumption for breast feeding among postnatal Indian mothers.

Breast milk is a unique form of nutrition for babies since it provides all of the essential nutrients for growth and development. Breastfeeding may also play a role in decreasing postpartum depression, and reduced the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in future. Garlic has been used as a galactogogue in India since many years. The study's major goal was to determine the effect of garlic consumption in promotion of breast feeding among the postnatal mothers in Nootan General Hospital Visnagar, India. The study employed a pre-experimental one-group pre and post-test research design, with the sample drawn via non-probability convenience sampling. The baseline preform and the 12-point modified adequacy of breast feeding checklist were used to collect data. The mean pre-test score was 3.33, and the mean post-test score was 8.33 in this study's data analysis. 5.47 was the average difference. The post-test mean was lower than the pre-test mean, indicating that garlic preparation consumption promotes breastfeeding among postnatal mothers. The pre-test stress score had a standard deviation of 2.56, while the post-test stress score had a standard deviation of 2.57.

Naturally occurring organosulfur compounds effectively inhibits PCSK-9 activity and restrict PCSK-9-LDL-receptor interaction via in-silico and in-vitro approach.

The present study intended to divulge the potential role of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds (OSCs) in targeting PCSK-9 and averting its interaction with the EGF-A portion of LDL-R via in-vitro and in-silico analysis. Our in-silico screening data showed that 3-(Propylsulfinyl)-L-alanine (PSA), S-Ethyl-L-cysteine (SEC), alliin, and S-Allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) exhibited higher binding energy (-7.05, -7.00, -6.65, and -6.31 Kcal/mol, respectively) against PCSK-9, among other selected OSCs. Further, the protein-protein interaction study of PCSK-9-OSCs-complex with EGF-A demonstrated a similar binding pattern with E-total values ranging from -430.01 to -405.6 Kcal/mol. These results were further validated via in-vitro analysis which showed that SEC, SAC, and diallyl trisulphide (DAT) exhibited the lowest IC50 values of 4.70, 5.26, and 5.29 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the presented data illustrated that SEC, SAC, and DAT were the best inhibitors of PCSK-9 activity and may have the potential to improve the LDL-R function and lower the circulatory LDL-C level.