garlic
Experimental cardiovascular depressant effects of garlic (Allium sativum) dialysate.

Martin N, Bardisa L, Pantoja C, Roman R, Vargas M.

Departamento de Ciencias Fisiologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile.

The objectives of this work were to investigate the effects of a garlic dialysate on diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) and electrocardiogram (ECG) of anaesthetized dogs and its effects on frequency and tension of isolated rat atria. Garlic dialysate led to a drop in DBP (from 112.5 +/- 3.67 to 70 +/- 3.16 mmHg) and a decrease in HR (from 198 +/- 9.81 to 164 +/- 16.59 beats/min) in a dose-dependent manner. The ECG showed a regular sinus bradycardic rhythm. The addition of garlic dialysate to isolated left rat atria evoked a decrease in tension development. Frequency, measured by spontaneous beating of the right atria, was also reduced. Both effects were dose-dependent. In addition to these effects, the positive inotropism and chronotropism induced by addition of isoproterenol 10(-9) M, were partially antagonized by preincubation of the rat atria with the garlic dialysate. The above findings can be explained by a depressant effect on automaticity and tension development in the heart, suggesting a beta-adrenoceptor blocking action produced by the garlic dialysate.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1434688&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
In vitro virucidal effects of Allium sativum (garlic) extract and compounds.

Weber ND, Andersen DO, North JA, Murray BK, Lawson LD, Hughes BG.

Department of Microbiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been shown to have antiviral activity, but the compounds responsible have not been identified. Using direct pre-infection incubation assays, we determined the in vitro virucidal effects of fresh garlic extract, its polar fraction, and the following garlic associated compounds: diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin), allyl methyl thiosulfinate, methyl allyl thiosulfinate, ajoene, alliin, deoxyalliin, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl trisulfide. Activity was determined against selected viruses including, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, parainfluenza virus type 3, vaccinia virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and human rhinovirus type 2. The order for virucidal activity generally was: ajoene > allicin > allyl methyl thiosulfinate > methyl allyl thiosulfinate. Ajoene was found in oil-macerates of garlic but not in fresh garlic extracts. No activity was found for the garlic polar fraction, alliin, deoxyalliin, diallyl disulfide, or diallyl trisulfide. Fresh garlic extract, in which thiosulfinates appeared to be the active components, was virucidal to each virus tested. The predominant thiosulfinate in fresh garlic extract was allicin. Lack of reduction in yields of infectious virus indicated undetectable levels of intracellular antiviral activity for either allicin or fresh garlic extract. Furthermore, concentrations that were virucidal were also toxic to HeLa and Vero cells. Virucidal assay results were not influenced by cytotoxicity since the compounds were diluted below toxic levels prior to assaying for infectious virus. These results indicate that virucidal activity and cytotoxicity may have depended upon the viral envelope and cell membrane, respectively. However, activity against non-enveloped virus may have been due to inhibition of viral adsorption or penetration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1470664&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Garlic in the ovine fetal environment.

Nolte DL, Provenza FD, Callan R, Panter KE.

Range Science Department, Utah State University, Logan 84322.

We investigated whether the odor of garlic can cross the placental barrier from the mother to the fetal environment. Samples of amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid, fetal blood, and maternal blood were collected 0, 50, 100, and 150 min after a pregnant ewe (approximately day 110 of gestation) was gavaged with 6 ml of Egyptian garlic oil. A panel of judges detected (p < 0.05) garlic odor in samples of allantoic fluid, fetal blood, and maternal blood collected 50, 100, and 150 min after the ewe was given garlic and in samples of amniotic fluid collected 100 min after treatment.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1484865&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Garlic: a sensory pleasure or a social nuisance?

Rosin S, Tuorila H, Uutela A.

Department of Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Finland.

A total of 100 female and male shoppers in Helsinki were interviewed to evaluate beliefs, attitudes and norms concerning the consumption of garlic. In a subsequent postal questionnaire, the annoyance related to the smell of garlic, compared with other social odors, was also measured. The most frequent beliefs about garlic pertained to its good taste, unpleasant smell, and healthiness. Users and non-users showed distinctly different belief patterns. Sweat and alcohol were considered the most annoying social odors, and garlic and perfume/aftershave the least so. The Fishbein-Ajzen model, in which individual beliefs and their evaluations as well as subjective norms were used as predictors, explained 35-36% of the variation of the reported consumption and intention to use garlic. The predictive power of the model rose to 56-62% when past behavior was included as a third independent variable. Although the predictive power of attitudes was greater than that of subjective norms, the latter were also significant predictors. Thus, use of garlic is a somewhat unusual form of food-related behavior in that it is controlled by both attitudes and normative factors.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1489211&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Alterations in hepatic phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes by garlic oil in rats.

Dalvi RR.

Toxicology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee University, AL 36088.

Studies were conducted to examine the effect of a single and repeated administrations of garlic oil (diallyl sulfide) on Phase I and Phase II biotransformation enzymes in rats. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with a single dose of garlic oil (500 mg/kg i.p.) showed a significant depression of hepatic cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase while microsomal protein content, cytochrome b5, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, benzphetamine N-demethylase and cytosolic glutathione, S-transferase remained unaffected 24 h following the treatment. Although certain microsomal enzymes were depressed, there was no liver damage caused by garlic oil as judged by the putative serum enzyme test. On the other hand, daily administration of garlic oil (50 mg/kg i.p. for 5 days) produced a significant increase in hepatic cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine N-demethylase and benzphetamine N-demethylase activities, but not in the rest of the aforementioned parameters of biotransformation reactions. These data indicate that the effect of garlic oil on the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system is dose-dependent.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1595088&dopt=Abstract garlic