While garlic is perhaps best known as a potently flavorful herb, it also has many medicinal properties in herbal medicine. Raw garlic and garlic supplements have a long history of killing microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Like all health products, consult a qualified health care provider before using garlic to treat an infection.
Raw Garlic
Raw garlic is known to be directly toxic to fungi and other microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa, according to the New York University Langone Medical Center. Doctors do not fully understand why garlic is toxic to fungi. One possibility is that chemicals in garlic interfere with the metabolism of fungi, preventing them from growing properly, reports a study published in 2001 in the journal "Mycopathologia."
Chemicals in Garlic
The exact chemicals in garlic that are toxic to fungi are also not fully understood. The most likely candidates are sulfur-containing chemicals known as organosulfur compounds, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. One possible candidate is allicin, also known as diallyl thiosulphinate, which has been shown to kill fungi in some studies, but not others, reports a paper published in January 2006 in the journal "Phytotherapy Research." Another candidate is ajoene, a derivative of allicin that forms when garlic is dissolved in oil.
Species of Fungi Killed
Garlic appears toxic to several species of fungi, include fungi belonging to the Candida and Tinea families. Candida fungi, such as Candida albicans, are responsible for yeast infections that may develop in body cavities, including the mouth or vagina. Yeast infections caused by Candida are also known as candidiasis or thrush. Fungi belonging to the Tinea family cause many common skin infections, including ringworm, jock itch and athlete's foot.
Using Garlic to Kill Fungi
In order to kill fungi, garlic typically needs to be applied directly to the skin to kill fungal skin infections. Eating garlic is unlikely to have any effect on fungal infections of the skin or body cavities, explains the New York University Langone Medical Center. However, raw, crushed garlic applied directly to the skin may cause irritation or burning, leading many people to use creams containing garlic extracts instead. Gels containing a 1 percent ajoene solution are often as effective as commercially available antifungal creams, according to MedlinePlus.
References
- MedlinePlus: Garlic; December 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Garlic and Organosulfur Compounds; Larry D. Lawson et al.; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic
- "Mycopathologia"; Effect of Garlic Bulb Extract on the Growth and Enzymatic Activities of Rhizosphere and Rhizoplane Fungi; Tawfik M. Muhsin; 2000
- "Phytotherapy Research"; Antimicrobial Effects of Allium Sativum L. (Garlic), Allium Ampeloprasum L. (Elephant garlic), and Allium Cepa L. (Onion), Garlic compounds and Commercial Garlic Supplement Products; G. Bronwyn et al.; Janurary 2006.
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