Products
Preparations from garlic bulbs are commercially available in the form of dragées and capsules, among others. Garlic is also available in grocery stores, for example, fresh, dried and as a spice (granules, powder). It has been used as a remedy for thousands of years.
Stem plant
Garlic L. from the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae) is native to Asia.
Medicinal drug
Garlic bulbs (Allii sativi bulbus) are used as a medicinal raw material, the dried bulbs of L. The pharmacopoeia requires a minimum content of allicin. Extracts, tinctures, powders and garlic oil macerates (with fatty oil), among others, are prepared from the drug.
Ingredients
The ingredients of garlic include:
- Numerous sulfur compounds, for example, alliin and allicin (metabolite of alliin), diallyl sulfide, ajoene, -allylcysteine.
- Essential oil
- Flavonoids
- Vitamins, minerals
Allicin is formed from alliin by the enzyme alliinase when garlic is cut or crushed. Allicin is itself unstable and sensitive to heat and is degraded to other compounds such as ajoene.
Black garlic
So-called aged black garlic originated in Asia. It is produced by allowing fresh garlic to ripen under the addition of heat and moisture (Maillard reaction). It has a sweet and sour taste and a dark brown to black color. Unlike conventional garlic, it does not smell and does not cause unpleasant vapors. The spectrum of ingredients and effects differs from fresh garlic (e.g., Ryu, Kang, 2017).
Effects
Preparations from garlic have antiplatelet, antiatherosclerotic, lipid-lowering, antioxidant, antitumor, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, fibrinolytic, and antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral) properties.
Indications
- For the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
- For supportive treatment of dyslipidemia (disorders of lipid metabolism).
- Mild hypertension.
- As a spice.
Dosage
According to the package insert. The intake depends on the product.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Blood clotting disorders (bleeding tendency)
- Children and adolescents under 18 years of age, due to insufficient data.
- Gastrointestinal complaints
To minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding, medications should be discontinued 14 days before surgery. Full precautions can be found in the Drug Information Leaflet.
Interactions
Drug-drug interactions may occur with vitamin K antagonists and other anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, antihypertensives, and saquinavir.
Adverse effects
Possible adverse effects include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms such as belching, nausea, and flatulence.
- Hypersensitivity reactions (rare)
- Bleeding (very rare)
- Blood pressure reduction
- Evaporation through the skin and breath, unpleasant odor, bad breath.
- Headache, dizziness, sweating