T HE evaluation of antihypertensive drugs has become a big business. Hundreds of people who work in some aspect of clinical investigation spend at least part of their time in this process. Their observations determine the expenditure, first by the drug companies and then by the public, of some millions of dollars a year. Even the law recognizes the fact that no accumulation of pharmacology, how...

In this study, we report the optimal extraction conditions for obtaining organosulfur compounds, such as cycloalliin, from garlic by using principal component analysis (PCA). Extraction variables including temperature (40~80°C), time (0.5~12 h), and pH (4~12) were investigated for the highest cycloalliin yields. The cycloalliin yield (5.5 mmol/mL) at pH 10 was enhanced by ~40% relative to those...

Six essential oils (EOs) from the Alliaceae family, namely garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), leek (Allium porrum), Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum), shallot (Allium ascalonicum) and chive (Allium schoenoprasum) were characterized by GC and GC-MS and evaluated for their functional food properties. Antibacterial properties were tested on five food-borne pathogens: Two Gram-positive St...

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the insecticidal activity of Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale and Nigella sativa extracts against the larvae of T. granarium under laboratory conditions in the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2009-10. The highest concentration of (6 %) Z. officinale was found to be comparatively more toxic (16.70 %) than those of A. sativum ...

In this article we discuss the importance of food plants, both introduced and native, in the pharmacopoeia of the Polish community in Misiones, Argentina. Food species constitute a relevant portion of all botanicals used by Polish settlers in home therapies (41%), while introduced food species prevail among the continued herbal remedies used by the study group. We explain this pattern of use by...

BACKGROUND: Interest in the potential benefits of allium vegetables, in particular, onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum), has its origin in antiquity, but the details of these benefits are still open to discussion. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of allium vegetables in the etiology of various neoplasms. Previous data are scanty and are based mainly on Chinese studies. DESIGN: Us...

Extracts of some spices have been reported to play a contributory role in enhancing immune function. We evaluated and compared the effect(s) of single and combined oral administration of fresh aqueous onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum) extracts at different concentrations on some immunological determinants in rats. CD₄ cells of the rats were estimated using Partec flow cytometric t...

Singh VK, Singh DK. Pharmacological Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum L.). ARBS Annu Rev Biomed Sci 2008;10:6-26. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a bulbous herb used as a food item, spice and medicine in different parts of the world. Its medicinal use is based on traditional experience passed from generation to generation. Researchers from various disciplines are now directing their efforts towar...