How does garlic work?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Metabolizing garlic’s sulfur-containing chemicals (i.e., allicin, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, and S-allylmercaptocysteine) eventually produces hydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S is not only responsible for the characteristic garlic odor, but is also a signaling molecule with direct effects on vascular tissue, nerve synapses, inflammatory processes, and more.[1] However, the sulfur-containing chemicals in garlic also have their own direct effects, activating several signaling pathways involved in anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms,[2][3] which explains garlic's role in cardiovascular health.[4] These chemicals also likely regulate the cell cycle in cancer cells, causing apoptosis (cell death),[5][6] which explains the potential role of garlic in lowering gastric and colorectal cancer risk.[5]

    References

    1. ^Mancardi D, Penna C, Merlino A, Del Soldato P, Wink DA, Pagliaro PPhysiological and pharmacological features of the novel gasotransmitter: hydrogen sulfide.Biochim Biophys Acta.(2009-Jul)
    2. ^Li M, Yun W, Wang G, Li A, Gao J, He QRoles and mechanisms of garlic and its extracts on atherosclerosis: A review.Front Pharmacol.(2022)
    3. ^Sánchez-Gloria JL, Arellano-Buendía AS, Juárez-Rojas JG, García-Arroyo FE, Argüello-García R, Sánchez-Muñoz F, Sánchez-Lozada LG, Osorio-Alonso HCellular Mechanisms Underlying the Cardioprotective Role of Allicin on Cardiovascular Diseases.Int J Mol Sci.(2022-Aug-13)
    4. ^Imaizumi VM, Laurindo LF, Manzan B, Guiguer EL, Oshiiwa M, Otoboni AMMB, Araujo AC, Tofano RJ, Barbalho SMGarlic: A systematic review of the effects on cardiovascular diseases.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2022-Feb-23)
    5. ^Yangyang Wang, Ping Huang, Yufei Wu, Duanrui Liu, Mingyu Ji, Huanjie Li, Yunshan WangAssociation and mechanism of garlic consumption with gastrointestinal cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysisOncol Lett.(2022 Apr)
    6. ^Mitra S, Das R, Emran TB, Labib RK, Noor-E-Tabassum , Islam F, Sharma R, Ahmad I, Nainu F, Chidambaram K, Alhumaydhi FA, Chandran D, Capasso R, Wilairatana PDiallyl Disulfide: A Bioactive Garlic Compound with Anticancer Potential.Front Pharmacol.(2022)