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Garlic''
'''''Allium sativum'' L.''', commonly known as '''garlic''', is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, the shallot, the leek and the chive.
Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. Origin and distribution
The ancestry of cultivated garlic, according to Zohary and Hopf, is not definitely established: "A difficulty in the identification of its wild progenitor is the sterility of the cultivars." [Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, ''Domestication of plants in the Old World'', third edition (Oxford: University Press, 2000), p. 197]
Allium sativum grows in the wild in areas where it has become naturalised; it probably descended from the species ''Allium longicuspis'', which grows wild in south-western Asia. [Salunkhe and Kadam p. 397] The 'wild garlic', 'crow garlic' and 'field garlic' of Britain are the species ''Allium ursinum'', ''Allium vineale'' and ''Allium oleraceum'', respectively. In North America, ''Allium vineale'', known as 'wild-' or 'crow garlic', and ''Allium canadense'', known as 'meadow-' or 'wild garlic' and 'wild onion', are common weeds in fields.[McGee p. 112] One of the best known 'garlics', the so-called Elephant Garlic|elephant garlic, is actually a wild leek (''Allium ampeloprasum'').
Side Effects
After eating a large quantity of garlic, a person will usually have halitosis. Their sweat and excreted oils will also smell like garlic. If an extremely large amount of garlic has been consumed, the person's mucus, vaginal discharge, dandruff, and even earwax will also smell like garlic. Washing the body with soap will not take away the scent, although perfumes will mask the scent. The smell usually fades over the course of several days.
Cultivation
Garlic is easy to grow and can be grown year-round in mild climates. In cold climates, cloves can be planted in the ground about six weeks before the soil freezes, and harvested in late spring. Garlic plants are not attacked by pests. They can suffer from pink root, a disease that stunts the roots and turns them pink or red. Garlic plants can be grown close together, leaving enough room for the bulbs to mature, and are easily grown in containers of sufficient depth.
There are different types or subspecies of garlic - most notably hardneck garlic and softneck garlic. It is important to get the right kind of garlic for your latitude, as garlic can be day-length sensitive. Hardneck garlic is generally grown in cooler climates, and softneck garlic is generally grown closer to the equator.
Production trends
Garlic is grown globally, but China is by far the largest producer of garlic with approximately 10.5 billion kilograms (23 billion pounds) annually, accounting for over 77% of world output. India (4.1%) and South Korea (2%) follow, with Russia (1.6%) in fourth place and United States (1.4%) in fifth place, where garlic is grown primarily as a cash crop in every state except for Alaska.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fenviro.lclark.edu%3A8002%2Fservlet%2FSBReadResourceServlet%3Frid%3D1198076575567_621468765_805&ei=HCeqR43YL4mYwQGPu8DQDA&usg=AFQjCNEY5alG-O56ux5EyJSqnvjL6Z9LTQ&sig2=SG3xImgrDgTatxK3Tm7kRA This leaves 16% of global garlic production in countries that produce less than 2% of global output. Much of the garlic production in the United States is centered around Gilroy, California which calls itself the "garlic capital of the world". The town holds a garlic festival annually and raises money for charity.
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Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating at least as far back as the time that the Egyptian pyramids were built. Garlic is claimed to help prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cancer.[University of Maryland Garlic]
Animal studies, and some early investigational studies in humans, have suggested possible cardiovascular benefits of garlic. A Czech study found garlic supplementation reduced accumulation of cholesterol on vascular walls of animals.[Sovova M, Sova P. Pharmaceutical importance of Allium sativum L. 5. Hypolipemic effects in vitro and in vivo. Ceska Slov Farm. 2004 May;53(3):117-23.]] Another study had similar results, with garlic supplementation significantly reducing aortic plaque deposits of cholesterol-fed rabbits.[Durak A, Ozturk HS, Olcay E, Guven C. Effects of garlic extract supplementation on blood lipid and antioxidant parameters and atherosclerotic plaque formation process of cholesterol-fed rabbits. ''J Herb Pharmcother''. 2002;2(2):19-32.] Another study showed that supplementation with garlic extract inhibited vascular calcification in human patients with high blood cholesterol.[Durak I, Kavutcu M, Aytac B, et al. Effects of garlic extract consumption on blood lipid and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in humans with high blood cholesterol. ''J Nutr Biochem''. 2004 Jun;15(6):373-7.] The known vasodilative effect of garlic is possibly caused by catabolism of garlic-derived polysulfides to hydrogen sulfide in red blood cells, a reaction that is dependent on reduced thiols in or on the RBC membrane. Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous cardioprotective vascular cell signaling molecule.[Hydrogen sulfide mediates the vasoactivity of garlic.]
However, a randomized clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States of America and published in ''Archives of Internal Medicine'' in 2007 found that the consumption of garlic in any form did not reduce blood cholesterol levels in patients with moderately high baseline cholesterol levels.[Garlic - What We Know and What We Don't Know Retrieved 27 February 2007 ][Effect of Raw Garlic vs Commercial Garlic Supplements on Plasma Lipid Concentrations in Adults With Moderate Hypercholesterolemia - A Randomized Clinical Trial Retrieved 26 February 2007]
With regard to this clinical trial, theheart.org reports:
In 2007 a BBC news story reported that ''Allium sativum'' may have beneficial properties, such as preventing and fighting the common cold.[Garlic 'prevents common cold' 2007] This assertion has the backing of long tradition in herbal medicine, which has used garlic for hoarseness and coughs.[Maud. (Mrs.). Garlic. A Modern Herbal. Hypertext version of the 1931 edition. Accessed: December 18, 2006. http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/garlic06.html] The Cherokee also used it as an expectorant for coughs and croup.[Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey 1975 Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History. Sylva, N.C. Herald Publishing Co. (p. 35)]
Allium sativum has been found to reduce platelet aggregation[People with diabetes should say 'yes' to garlic by Patricia Andersen-Parrado, Better Nutrition, Sept 1996][Garlic - University of Maryland, Baltimore|University of Maryland Medical Center] People taking insulin should not consume medicinal amounts of garlic without consulting a physician.
In 1858, Louis Pasteur observed garlic's antibacterial activity, and it was used as an antiseptic to prevent gangrene during World War I and World War II.[Health effects of garlic American Family Physician by Ellen Tattelman, July 1, 2005] More recently it has been found from a clinical trial that a mouthwash containing 2.5% fresh garlic shows good antimicrobial activity, although the majority of the participants reported an unpleasant taste and halitosis.[Groppo, F.; Ramacciato, J.; Motta, R.; Ferraresi, P.; Sartoratto, A. (2007) "Antimicrobial activity of garlic against oral streptococci." Int. J. Dent. Hyg., 5:109–115.]
In modern naturopathy, garlic is used as a treatment for intestinal worms and other intestinal parasites, both orally and as an anal suppository. Garlic cloves are used as a remedy for infections (especially chest problems), digestive disorders, and fungal infections such as Candidiasis|thrush.http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/151/10/3257http://aac.asm.org/cgi/content/full/49/1/473
Garlic has been reasonably successfully used in AIDS patients to treat cryptosporidium in an uncontrolled study in China.[Fareed G, Scolaro M, Jordan W, Sanders N, Chesson C, Slattery M, Long D, Castro C. The use of a high-dose garlic preparation for the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum diarrhea. NLM Gateway. Retrieved December 7, 2007.] It has also been used by at least one AIDS patient to treat toxoplasmosis, another protozoal disease.[John S. James. Treatment Leads on Cryptosporisiosis: Preliminary Report on Opportunistic Infection, ''AIDS TREATMENT NEWS'' No. 049 - January 29, 1988. Retrieved December 7, 2007.]
Garlic supplementation in rats along with a high protein diet has been shown to boost testosterone levels. Properties
When crushed, ''Allium sativum'' yields allicin, a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal compound (phytoncide). However due to poor bioavailability it is of limited use for oral consumption. It also contains alliin, ajoene, enzymes, vitamin B, minerals, and flavonoids.
The percentage composition of the bulbs is given by E. Solly (''Trans. Hon. Soc. Loud.'', new ser., iii. p. 60) as water 84.09%, organic matter 13.38%, and inorganic matter 1.53% - that of the leaves being water 87.14%, organic matter 11.27% and inorganic matter 1.59%.
The phytochemicals responsible for the sharp flavor of garlic are produced when the plant's cell (biology)|cells are damaged. When a cell is broken by chopping, chewing, or crushing, enzymes stored in cell vacuoles trigger the breakdown of several sulfur-containing compounds stored in the cell fluids. The resultant compounds are responsible for the sharp or hot taste and strong smell of garlic. Some of the compounds are unstable and continue to evolve over time. Among the members of the onion family, garlic has by far the highest concentrations of initial reaction products, making garlic much more potent than onions, shallots, or Leek (vegetable)|leeks.[McGee p. 310–311] Although people have come to enjoy the taste of garlic, these compounds are believed to have evolved as a defensive mechanism, deterring animals like birds, insects, and worms from eating the plant.[Macpherson ''et al.'' section "Conclusion"]
A large number of sulfur compounds contribute to the smell and taste of garlic. Diallyl disulfide is believed to be an important odour component. Allicin has been found to be the compound most responsible for the "hot" sensation of raw garlic. This chemical opens thermoTRP (transient receptor potential) channels that are responsible for the burning sense of heat in foods. The process of cooking garlic removes allicin, thus mellowing its spiciness.[Macpherson ''et al.'']
When eaten in quantity, garlic may be strongly evident in the diner's sweat and breath the following day. This is because garlic's strong smelling sulfur compounds are metabolized forming allyl methyl sulfide. ''Allyl methyl sulfide'' (AMS) cannot be digested and is passed into the blood. It is carried to the lungs and the skin where it is excreted. Since digestion takes several hours, and release of AMS several hours more, the effect of eating garlic may be present for a long time.
This well-known phenomenon of "garlic breath" is alleged to be alleviated by eating fresh parsley. The herb is, therefore, included in many garlic recipes, such as Pistou, Persillade and the garlic butter spread used in garlic bread. However, since the odour results mainly from digestive processes placing compounds such as AMS in the blood, and AMS is then released through the lungs over the course of many hours, eating parsley provides only a temporary masking. One way of accelerating the release of AMS from the body is the use of a sauna. Due to its strong odor, garlic is sometimes called the "stinking rose".
Because of the AMS in the bloodstream, it is believed by some to act as a mosquito repellent. However there is no evidence to suggest that garlic is actually effective for this purpose.[Mosquito Repellents]
Spiritual and Religious Perceptions of Garlic
Garlic has been regarded as a force for both good and evil. A Christian mythology|Christian myth considers that after Satan left the Garden of Eden, garlic arose in his left footprint, and onion in the right.[ p. 211] In Europe, many cultures have used garlic for protection or white Magic (paranormal)|magic, perhaps owing to its reputation as a potent preventative medicine.[ p. 120.] Central European folk beliefs considered garlic a powerful ward against demons, werewolf|werewolves, and vampires.[ p. 120.] To ward off vampires, garlic could be worn, hung in windows or rubbed on chimneys and keyholes.[McNally p. 122; Pickering p. 211.]
In Taoism mythology, six clove black garlic is used as part of the process of modifying a Taoist's genetics. It supposedly endows the user immortality by intensifying their vital energy or "chi."
The association of garlic to evil spirits may be based on the antibacterial, antiparasitic value of garlic, which could prevent infections that lead to delusions, and other related mental illness symptoms.[University of Maryland Garlic][Neurodegenerative diseases]
Garlic is called "lassan" in Hindi and related Sanskrit-based languages such as Gujarati. In both Hinduism and Jainism, garlic is considered to stimulate and warm the body and to increase one's desires. Hindus generally avoid using garlic and the related onion in the preparation of foods for religious festivities and events. Followers of the Jain religion avoid eating garlic and onion on a daily basis.
In connection with the odor associated with garlic, Islam views eating garlic and subsequently going to the mosque as inappropriate. "Whoever has eaten (garlic) should not approach our mosque," indicated Muhammad.[Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 65]
Cautions
- Known adverse effects of garlic include halitosis (non-bacterial bad breath), indigestion, nausea, emesis and diarrhea.
- Garlic may interact with warfarin, antiplatelets, saquinavir, antihypertensives, Calcium channel blockers, hypoglycemic drugs, as well as other medications. Consult a health professional before taking a garlic supplement
- Garlic can thin the blood similar to the effect of aspirin.[[http://nccam.nih.gov/health/garlic/ Garlic - Allium sativum Herbs at a Glance]]
- Two outbreaks of botulism have been caused by consuming commercially produced garlic-in-oil preparations that were not properly preserved. It is especially important for home-preparation to use safe and tested Preservative|food-preservation methods to retard bacterial growth, such as including sufficient salt or acidity and keeping the mixture refrigerated. It is recommended to not keep home-preparations for more than a week.[CSU SafeFood Newsletter, Summer 2005 - Vol 9 No. 4 - Botulinum Toxin: Friend or Foe][Health Canada - Garlic-in-Oil]
- While culinary quantities are considered safe for consumption, very high quantities of garlic and garlic supplements have been linked with an increased risk of bleeding, particularly during pregnancy and after surgery and child birth.[MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Garlic (Allium sativum L.)][Mayo Clinic, garlic advisory][Mayo Clinic, garlic advisory]
- The side effects of long-term garlic supplementation, if any exist, are largely unknown and no FDA-approved study has been performed. However, garlic has been consumed for several thousand years without any adverse long-term effects, suggesting that modest quantities of garlic pose, at worst, minimal risks to normal individuals. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, sweating, dizziness, allergic reactions, bleeding, and menstrual irregularities.[MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Garlic (Allium sativum L.)]
- Some degree of liver toxicity has been demonstrated in rats, particularly in extremely large quantities exceeding those that a rat would consume under normal situations.[[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8644128&dopt=Citation Histopathological effects of garlic on liver and l...Lett. 1996] - PubMed Result]
- There have been several reports of serious burns resulting from garlic being applied topically for various purposes, including naturopathic uses and acne treatment, so care must be taken to test a small area of skin using a very low concentration of garlic.[Abstract] On the basis of numerous reports of such burns, including burns to children, topical use of raw garlic, as well as insertion of raw garlic into body cavities is discouraged. In particular, topical application of raw garlic to young children is not advisable.[Garty, B.-Z. (1993) Garlic burns. Pediatrics, 91: 658–659. ]
- Garlic and onions might be toxic to cats or dogs. If you wish to feed them to your pet, first use only one flake or a pinch.[Pets By Nature Garlic Toxic to Pets]
References
Notes
Bibliography
- pp 310–313: The Onion Family: Onions, Garlic, Leeks.
*
*
- James Mellgren (2003).
- Hamilton, Andy (2004). Selfsufficientish - Garlic. Retrieved 1 May 2005.
- R. Kamenetsky, I. L. Shafir, H. Zemah, A. Barzilay, and H. D. Rabinowitch (2004). Environmental Control of Garlic Growth and Florogenesis. ''J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci.'' 129: 144–151.
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- Balch, P. A. (2000). ''Prescription for Nutritional Healing'', 3rd ed. New York: Avery.
- Block, E. (1985). The chemistry of garlic and onions. ''Scientific American'' 252 (March): 114–119.
- Block, E. (1992). The organosulfur chemistry of the genus Allium — implications for organic sulfur chemistry. ''Angewandte Chemie International Edition'' 104: 1158–1203.
- Breithaupt-Grogler, K., et al. (1997). Protective effect of chronic garlic intake on elastic properties of aorta in the elderly. ''Circulation'' 96: 2649–2655. Abstract.
- Efendy, J. L., et al. (1997). The effect of the aged garlic extract, 'Kyolic', on the development of experimental atherosclerosis. ''Atherosclerosis'' 132: 37–42. Abstract.
- Japanese garlic.にんにく.
- Gardner, C. D.; Lawson, L. D.; Block, E.; Chatterjee, L. M.; Kiazand, A.; Balise, R. R.; Kraemer, H. C. (2007) The effect of raw garlic vs. garlic supplements on plasma lipids concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia: A clinical trial. "Archives of Internal Medicine" 167: 346–353.
- Garty, B.-Z. (1993) Garlic burns. "Pediatrics" 91: 658–659.
- Hile, A. G.; Shan, Z.; Zhang, S.-Z.; Block, E. (2004). Aversion of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) to garlic oil treated granules: garlic oil as an avian repellent. Garlic oil analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. ''Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry'' 52: 2192–2196.
- Jain, A. K. (1993). Can garlic reduce levels of serum lipids? A controlled clinical study. ''American Journal of Medicine'' 94: 632–635.
- Lawson, L. D.; Wang, Z. J. (2001). Low allicin release from garlic supplements: a major problem due to sensitivities of alliinase activity. ''Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry'' 49: 2592–2599.]
- Lemar, K.M.; Turner, M.P.; Lloyd, D. (2002) Garlic (Allium sativum) as an anti-Candida agent: a comparison of the efficacy of fresh garlic and freeze-dried extracts. Journal of Applied Microbiology 93 (3), 398–405 Abstract
- Mader, F. H. (1990). Treatment of hyperlipidemia with garlic-powder tablets. ''Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research'' 40 (2): 3–8. Abstract.
- Shufford, J.A.; Steckelberg, J.M.; Patel, R. (2005) Antimicrob Agents Chemother. January; 49(1): 473.Effects of Fresh Garlic Extract on Candida albicans Biofilms Letter
- Silagy, C., and Neil, A. (1994). Garlic as a lipid-lowering agent - a meta-analysis. ''Journal of the Royal College of Physicians'' 28 (1): 2–8.
- Steiner, M., and Lin, R.S. (1998). Changes in platelet function and susceptibility of lipoproteins to oxidation associated with administration of aged garlic extract. ''Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology'' 31: 904–908.
- Yeh, Y-Y., et al. (1999). Garlic extract reduces plasma concentration of homocysteine in rats rendered folic acid deficient. ''FASEB Journal'' 13(4): Abstract 209.12.
- Yeh, Y-Y., et al. (1997). Garlic reduced plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic men maintaining habitual diets. In: Ohigashi, H., et al. (eds). ''Food Factors for Cancer Prevention''. Tokyo: Springer-Verlag. Abstract.
See also
- Allistatin
- ''Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers''. Directed by Les Blank.
- Herbalism
- Naturopathic medicine
External links
- Better Homes and Gardens tips for growing garlic
- PROTAbase on ''Allium sativum''
- Garlic: Plants For a Future database
- How to Roast Garlic
''
Category:Allium
Category:Herbs
Category:Medicinal plants
Category:Root vegetables
Category:Antifungals
Category:Mediterranean cuisine
zh-min-nan:Soàn-thâu
zh-classical:蒜
simple:Garlic
Related Images- Garlic output in 2005
- Garlic growing in a container
- Garlic flowerhead
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