The Anti-fungal and Anti-viral effects of Garlic

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The Anti-fungal and Anti-viral effects of Garlic

 

 

 

by Peter Josling B. Sc. (Hons.) first published in Mostly Garlic

Magazine

 

 

http://www.garlic.mistral.co.uk/ezine7.htm

 

The antibiotic properties of garlic have earnt it the popular

name " nature's antibiotic " but this incredible stinking rose can

provide a " full house " of activity against fungi, yeast's and viral

infections. The antifungal properties of garlic have long been used

in folk medicine for the treatment of Candida infections, especially

those of the skin.

 

The first serious published evidence was produced by Schmidt and

Marquardt in 1936 when they demonstrated the extraordinary

fungistatic and fungicidal action of freshly pressed garlic juice

and dried garlic with epidermophyte cultures. Later, American and

Russian authors reported similar findings almost simultaneously, and

since then, numerous studies have appeared in which the inhibition

of fungal growth by garlic and/or its constituents, mainly allicin,

is described.

 

Further evidence that allicin is responsible for the anticandidal

activity of garlic has been demonstrated in a study where pure

allicin was found to be highly active - with a minimum inhibitory

concentration (MIC) of only 7 ug/mL. The study also showed that

several varieties of onion had much less anticandidal and

antibacterial activity than garlic (Hughes & Lawson, 1991).

 

Growth and respiration are also inhibited by garlic juice in Candida

albicans, Trichophyton cerebriforme, and T.granulosum. At a dilution

of 1:1000, garlic juice had no harmful effect on tissue cultures,

such as chicken embryos or kidney cells; however, it completely

inhibited the growth of yeast.

 

 

 

Effect of allicin on various

 

fungal pathogens

 

Fungal Strain

Allicin concentration

 

MIC mcg/ml

 

Candida albicans

0.3

 

Candida neoformans

0.3

 

Candida parapsilosis

0.15

 

Candida tropicalis

0.3

 

Candida krusei

0.3

 

 

 

 

Microorganisms are much more sensitive to the active constituents of

garlic than are higher organisms. In 1960 several workers carried

out some model experiments with various yeast strains (Saccharomyces

cerevisiae, S.ellipsoideus, S.carlsbergensis) and enzymatically-

produced allicin. Total growth inhibition occurred with the original

strains, but not with some mutants of the yeasts. Some of the

dermatophytes against which garlic is effective are Microsporum

gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre, Malbranchea pulchella, and

Chrysosporium tropicum. Effectiveness against Aspergillus

parasiticus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillum patulum,

P.roqueforti, and P.citrinum has also been reported. Saccharomyces

cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton

mentagrophytes, and T.rubrum are further species responding to

garlic.

 

Activity was also observed against Candida albicans, Aspergillus

parasiticus, A.flavus, and A.ochreus. At dilutions of 1:200 to

1:1600, garlic juice exhibits fungistatic activity to Aspergillus

niger, A.orzae, Rhizopus nigricans, and Mucor racemosus. At higher

concentrations it is effective against Didium lactis, Penicillium

glaucum, and P.notadum.

 

American Researchers tested 139 species of pathogenic fungi and

yeast's for their in vitro sensitivity to aqueous garlic extract.

The results were quite variable, since many microorganisms did not

grow at all while others grew well. From these results, it can be

seen that the antifungal effect is specific and not general. On

several yeast's which grow on foods or are used industrially, it was

observed that even very small amounts (25 ppm) of garlic oil have a

strong inhibitory effect.

 

Annually, about 120 Americans fall victim to coccidiosis ( " valley

fever " ), an intestinal disease caused by certain pathological fungi,

including Coccidioides immitis, Auxarthron zufiiaanum, and

Uncinocarpus resii. All of these fungi are sensitive to garlic

extracts. Furthermore the effectiveness of an aqueous garlic extract

against a series of human pathogenic fungi and yeasts, which

originated from patients with infectious vaginitis containing

Candida, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Torilopsis, and Trichosporon

were all inhibited or killed by garlic extract at a dilution of

1:1024.

 

Upadhyay and colleagues in 1980 tested the susceptibility of fresh

garlic juice of a large number of fungi and yeasts isolated from the

tears of patients with eye diseases. A remarkable antimycotic

activity was observed, and the authors recommended the application

of juice in opthalmology!

 

Aqueous garlic extracts have been shown in China to have good

success in curing patients of life-threatening cryptococcal

meningitis (Hunan Medical College, 1980).

 

In poultry farming, the addition of 2-5% garlic (chips or extract)

to the feed is used for the prevention of mycocis in the animals.

Garlic was also effective against Candida albicans and Aspergillus

fumigatus. In veterinary practice, garlic extract is used for

treatment of infected wounds, in calves, for example, and for

promotion of wound healing. In India, a garlic preparation is used

for scabies in pigs!

 

Comparative studies on the effects of garlic juice and the

pharmaceutical preparations, nystatin, griseofulvin, and

amphotericin B against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans,

Goetrichum candidum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Epidmophyton

mentagrophytes have shown that the antimycotic activity of garlic

exceeds that of ALL the drugs investigated.

 

How garlic exerts this incredible activity against Candida albicans

is still much of a mystery. However it is known that garlic extract

caused damage to the outer surface of the fungal cells and caused

several alterations in the fat content. It is also probable that

garlic may reduce the adhesion of Candida cells to the mouth.

 

Tests for possible application of garlic oil and recently available

stabilised allicin [more details] to control various phytopathogenic

fungi in agriculture have revealed a considerable activity against

these pests. In a field study with peanut and mung bean plants,

garlic oil (50-10,000 ppm) was found to be protective. Gibberella

zeae, a parasite of maize, is inhibited by garlic oil (8,000-10,000

ppm) more effectively than by pesticides. The larvae of Trogoderma

granarium Everts, another parasite on maize kernels, can be

controlled by 1-2% garlic oil. Other Allium species, especially

onion and leek, inhibit a variety of rot fungi.

 

Aqueous extracts of garlic and Chinese chive (Aspergillus tuberosum)

have good fungicidal properties but do not inhibit plant growth.

There is evidence that certain plant phenols are involved in

pathogen resistance of roots.

 

Aged garlic extract, which contains no allicin or allicin-derived

compounds, was found in vitro to have no anticandidal or other

antifungal activity. (Hughes & Lawson, 1991)

 

 

 

Garlic oil (steam-distilled) is also an effective remedy against

wood-destroying fungi such as Lenzites trabea, Plyporus vesicolor

and Lentinus lepideus. Therefore, it has been suggested that garlic

should be planted between railroad ties and along fences, in order

to prevent premature decay of the wood. Of course, the antifungal

components of garlic also protect garlic itself from fungal

infestation!

 

 

 

Antiviral Effects

 

Currently relatively few publications exist to show the activity of

garlic and its components against viral infections. However the

evidence that does exist shows clearly that garlic, or more

accurately, allicin, has significant in vitro and in vivo activity.

Among the viruses that are sensitive to garlic extracts are the

human cytomegalovirus, influenza B, herpes simplex virus types 1 and

2, parainfluenza virus type 3, vaccinia virus, vesicular stomatitis

virus and human rhinovirus type 2.

 

It was reported that, during an influenza epidemic, the former

Soviet Union once imported 500 tons of garlic for the acute

treatment of the disease.

 

Garlic therefore acquired the name " Russian Penicillin " . Indeed it

was also reported that Radio Stations in Moscow advised their

listeners to go out and buy more garlic to eat during the epidemic!

In eastern Europe and in the South and East Asian countries (India

and China), garlic is used as a substitute for the probably more

effective, but often much too expensive, western medications.

 

Before the development of vaccines against poliomyelitis, garlic was

used successfully as a prophylactic against polio. It was also

observed that garlic was very effective against viral influenza A.

 

In the UK recently, we have shown that pure stabilised allicin has

demonstrated significant activity against herpes simplex type 1

after only a few topical applications. Patients report a slight

stinging on application, but interestingly the smell disappears

extremely quickly.

 

For any readers with a young family, this author and co-workers have

also demonstrated that allicin can conquer a troublesome viral

infection known as molluscum contagiosum. This is a very distressing

condition often found in young children between the ages of 2 and 5

years old. A rash appears on the trunk or genitals and eventually

nasty wheals, that burst, and often leave scarring can really upset

young children. No prescribed pharmaceutical agent works at all. Yet

after only a few applications of allicin liquid directly to the

spots, they disappear without leaving any significant marks!

 

A further allicin type preparation for parenteral use has also

claimed activity against viral infections, among them AIDS. A patent

has even protected this application!

 

Significant activity against influenza viruses was also shown with

intranasal and intramuscular application of an aqueous garlic

extract in mice. Prophylactic application prolonged the survival

time of the animals. Sodium fluoride enhanced the antiviral effect

of garlic extract.

 

A single report is available on the effectiveness of garlic against

rickettsia. Kumar and co-workers (1981) conducted an experiment with

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent for Q fever, in chickens.

Among the results were delayed and weaker antibody reaction for the

prophylactically treated chickens (daily fed 2g chopped cloves per

animal) and faster recovery than the animals of the control group.

From these results, the authors inferred that garlic is also

effective against the whole group of viruses of this type.

 

Several compounds from garlic as well as several types of commercial

garlic products have been investigated for virucidal activity toward

several viruses. Ajoene was more active than allicin and other

thiosulfinates, while no activity was found for alliin. Only

commercial products capable of producing allicin showed any

virucidal activity.

 

With the FDA and the UK authorities recently granting a

pharmaceutical license for the new GlaxoWellcome anti flu drug,

Relenza this presents an ideal marketing opportunity for the drug

industry. Since here is a drug that may reduce the symptoms of flu

by a mere 2 days, yet will cost up to $45 for a course of only 30

tablets. This amount will buy an awful lot of garlic and I for one

know which I would choose for the flu this winter!

 

 

 

Peter Josling - Garlic Center - If you use this article anywhere

please quote The Garlic Center as the source of your material -

thanks!

 

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