Garlic is a well-known herb used for cooking as well as in herbal medicines. Many health conditions respond to treatment with garlic or garlic supplements, including bacterial and fungal infections, most likely due to chemicals in garlic that are toxic to these microorganisms. Like all health supplements, you should consult your doctor before using garlic supplements.
Fungal Growth
Garlic extracts can directly inhibit the growth of fungus in a laboratory dish, reports a study published in 2001 in the journal "Mycopathologia." In the study, extracts made from ground garlic were able to slow the growth of all 18 species of fungi tested. The fungal species tested were all isolated from plants, including okra, tomato and wheat.
Mechanism of Action
Garlic appears to slow fungal growth by disrupting the metabolism of fungal cells. When fungi are grown in the presence of garlic, the garlic appears to reduce the activity of several key metabolic enzymes, including cellulase, amylase, protease, and phenoloxidase, according to the "Mycopathologia" study. When these enzymes are disrupted, fungi cannot grow as quickly as normal.
Chemicals in Garlic
The main active ingredient in garlic appears to be a chemical known as allicin, which possesses potent antifungal and antimicrobial properties, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Once garlic is chopped and dissolved in a solvent like oil, allicin undergoes a chemical reaction to form ajoene, which also has potent antifungal properties, according to an article in the August 1998 issue of the journal "Atherosclerosis."
Garlic Creams
Antifungal creams containing garlic are sometimes used to treat fungal infections in humans. Creams containing a concentration of 0.6 percent ajoene are often effective in treating ringworm and jock itch, according to MedlinePlus. To treat athlete's foot, a higher concentration of 1 percent ajoene is necessary. A 1 percent ajoene cream appears to be as effective as the over-the-counter antifungal cream, Lamisil, according to MedlinePlus.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- MedlinePlus: Garlic
- "Mycopathologia"; Effect of Garlic Bulb Extract on the Growth and Enzymatic Activities of Rhizosphere and Rhizoplane Fungi; Tawfik M. Muhsin, et al.; 2001
- "Atherosclerosis"; Effect of Allicin and Ajoene, Two Compounds of Garlic, on Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase; V.M. Dirsch; August 1998
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