People have used garlic for both food and medicine for thousands of years. Research indicates that garlic may have protective effects against cancer and heart disease, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Allicin is a primary active component of fresh garlic and it provides not only its strong odor but many healing properties.
Antibacterial Benefits
Allicin has antibacterial properties against a wide range of bacteria, according to laboratory research published in the February 1999 issue of Microbes and Infection. The authors noted that allicin even showed effectiveness against multi-drug resistant strains of Escherichia coli, more commonly called E. coli. E. coli is mainly known for causing life-threatening cases of food poisoning. Additional studies have reported that consuming garlic may kill bacteria that cause stomach and intestinal ulcers, as explained by the UMMC.
Antifungal Benefits
The Microbes and Infection study found that allicin has antifungal properties and is particularly effective at fighting Candida albicans, mainly known for causing vaginal yeast infections and oral thrush. Allicin also showed antiparasitic activity. The substance was effective against some notable human intestinal parasites, including Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia, both of which can cause severe diarrhea. Other research has found that topical application of garlic may effectively treat fungal skin conditions including Tinea cruris, or jock itch, and Tinea corporis, or ringworm, according to the UMMC.
Reducing Blood Lipids
In laboratory research, allicin brings down high levels of blood lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Garlic appears to have similar effects on blood lipids as statin drugs, which are commonly prescribed to lower high cholesterol.
Blood-Thinning Properties
A study published in the November 2000 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry looked at the antiplatelet properties of garlic. Antiplatelet agents interfere with the blood's ability to clot, an effect that is beneficial for people at increased risk of heart attack or stroke. In this research, allicin showed significantly greater platelet inhibitor effects than aspirin, a medication commonly recommended for its blood-thinning properties.
Anti-Cancer Effects
Because garlic stopped the proliferation of certain cancer cells in laboratory studies, researchers further investigated whether pure allicin has this effect. They found that allicin inhibited proliferation of breast, endometrial and colon cancer cells, and they published their conclusions in Nutrition and Cancer in Volume 38, Number 2 in 2000.
