NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in the Newly Independent States (NIS)
Uses described in pharmacopoeias and in traditional systems of medicine
The treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections, ringworm and
rheumatic conditions (1, 4, 7, 9, 11). The herb has been used as a carminative
in the treatment of dyspepsia (32).
Uses described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental or
clinical data
As an aphrodisiac, antipyretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, and sedative,
to treat asthma and bronchitis, and to promote hair growth (6, 9, 13).
Pharmacology
Experimental pharmacology
Bulbus Allii Sativi has a broad range of antibacterial and antifungal activity
(13). The essential oil, water, and ethanol extracts, and the juice inhibit
the in vitro growth of Bacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella
sonnei, Erwinia carotovora, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia
coli, Pasteurella multocida, Proteus species, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Candida species, Cryptococcus species, Rhodotorula
rubra, Toruloposis species, Trichosporon pullulans, and Aspergillus niger
(33–40). Its antimicrobial activity has been attributed to allicin, one of the
active constituents of the drug (41). However, allicin is a relatively unstable
and highly reactive compound (37, 42) and may not have antibacterial
activity in vivo. Ajoene and diallyl trisulfide also have antibacterial
and antifungal activities (43). Garlic has been used in the treatment of
roundworm (Ascaris strongyloides) and hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum
and Necator americanus) (44, 45). Allicin appears to be the active
anthelminthic constituent, and diallyl disulfide was not effective (46).
Fresh garlic, garlic juice, aged garlic extracts, or the volatile oil all lowered
cholesterol and plasma lipids, lipid metabolism, and atherogenesis
both in vitro and in vivo (18, 43, 47–64). In vitro studies with isolated
primary rat hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells have shown that watersoluble
garlic extracts inhibited cholesterol biosynthesis in a dose-dependent
manner (48–50). Antihypercholesterolaemic and antihyperlipidaemic
effects were observed in various animal models (rat, rabbit, chicken,
pig) after oral (in feed) or intragastric administration of minced garlic
bulbs; water, ethanol, petroleum ether, or methanol extracts; the essential
oil; aged garlic extracts and the fixed oil (51–64). Oral administration of
allicin to rats during a 2-month period lowered serum and liver levels of
total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (65). Total
plasma lipids and cholesterol in rats were reduced after intraperitoneal
14