Garlic and its effects on parasitic diseases

Abstract

Garlic, with the scientific name of Allium sativum, as a member family of the liliaceae and this fruit has the genus of onions. Garlic has been used both as a food flavoring and as a traditional medicine. Garlic is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran, and has long been a common seasoning worldwide. The use of plants in traditional and modern classic medicine has long been discussed. The use of garlic has several benefits for the threat to human health and animal production such as development of resistance in microorganism's allergies and genotoxicity. Allicin, one of the garlic components, could have a therapeutic effects, including anti-microbial effect, immunostimulating properties, improve fibrinolytic activity, inhibit platlet aggregation and adhesion and also reduce blood pressure. In World War II, garlic was used as an antibacterial agent for prevention of gas gangrene. The antibacterial effect of garlic on gram positive and negative bacteria has been defined for a long time. It has been suggested that garlic modulates progression of leishmaniasis by augmentation of immune system. There are also reports which show the effectiveness of garlic in the treatment of worms and parasites, such as Schistosoma mansoni. Garlic is tested in vivo and in vitro for its anthelmintic activity against cestodes (Hymenolepis diminuta, H. microstoma, and Taenia taeniaeformis) and trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, Echinostoma caproni). In all in vitro tests, the target parasites died. This indicates that garlic, by helping to create antioxidants, reduces the number of parasite eggs resulting in the low birth rate of new worms in the living organism. Another study indicated that Allicin has anti parasitic activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. It is also effective against some major human intestinal protozoan parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. The activity of diallyl trisulfide was investigated against several important protozoan parasites in vitro.

Full text

Garlic and its effects on parasitic diseases
Majid Khanmohammadi1,*, Farnaz Rasi-Bonab2
1 Department of Biology, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
2- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
Abstract
Garlic, with the scientific name of Allium sativum, as a member family of the
liliaceae and this fruit has the genus of onions. Garlic has been used both as a
food flavoring and as a traditional medicine. Garlic is native to Central Asia and
northeastern Iran, and has long been a common seasoning worldwide. The use of
plants in traditional and modern classic medicine has long been discussed. The
use of garlic has several benefits for the threat to human health and animal
production such as development of resistance in microorganism’s allergies and
genotoxicity. Allicin, one of the garlic components, could have a therapeutic
effects, including anti-microbial effect, immunostimulating properties, improve
fibrinolytic activity, inhibit platlet aggregation and adhesion and also reduce
blood pressure. In World War II, garlic was used as an antibacterial agent for
prevention of gas gangrene. The antibacterial effect of garlic on gram positive
and negative bacteria has been defined for a long time. It has been suggested that
garlic modulates progression of leishmaniasis by augmentation of immune
system. There are also reports which show the effectiveness of garlic in the
treatment of worms and parasites, such as Schistosoma mansoni. Garlic is tested
in vivo and in vitro for its anthelmintic activity against cestodes (Hymenolepis
diminuta, H. microstoma, and Taenia taeniaeformis) and trematodes (Fasciola
hepatica, Echinostoma caproni). In all in vitro tests, the target parasites died. This
indicates that garlic, by helping to create antioxidants, reduces the number of
parasite eggs resulting in the low birth rate of new worms in the living organism.
Another study indicated that Allicin has anti parasitic activity against
Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. It is also effective
against some major human intestinal protozoan parasites such as Entamoeba
histolytica and Giardia lamblia. The activity of diallyl trisulfide was investigated
against several important protozoan parasites in vitro.
Keywords: Garlic, therapeutic, effect, anti-parasitic

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