Garlic as food, spice and Medicine: as prospective

Abstract

From ancient time garlic has been used as food, spice and household medicine for several common problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, skin problems and fungal infections while its biological function is to repel herbivorous animals. The word garlic derived from the Germanic word being composed of two elements. One is gar means spear and refers to the pointed leaves and second element lic which generally mean either leek or onion. The therapeutic effect of garlic is due to organic sulfur compound such as alliin which metabolize to other sulphur compounds such as allicin, ajoene, allyl sulfides and vinyldithiines. This review covers the study of pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacology, its valuable effects, different herbal formulas for various diseases, garlic preparations, marketed formulations along with its major side effects and contraindication.