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Bulbus Allii Sativi
lary erythrocyte flow rate and decreased plasma viscosity and plasma fibrinogen
levels were observed in the group treated with the drug (123,
124). Determinations of platelet aggregation ex vivo, after ingestion of
garlic and garlic preparations by humans, suffer from methodological difficulties
that may account for the negative results in some studies (24). In
one study in patients with hypercholesterolinaemia treated with a garlic–
oil macerate for 3 months, platelet adhesion and aggregation decreased
significantly (125). In a 3-year intervention study, 432 patients with myocardial
infarction were treated with either an ether-extracted garlic oil (0.1
mg/kg/day, corresponding to 2 g fresh garlic daily) or a placebo (126). In
the group treated with garlic, there were 35% fewer new heart attacks and
45% fewer deaths than in the control group. The serum lipid concentrations
of the treated patients were also reduced (126).
The acute and chronic effects of garlic on fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation
in 12 healthy patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled
cross-over study were investigated (30). A daily dose of 900 mg
of garlic powder for 14 days significantly increased tissue plasminogen
activator activity as compared with placebo (30). Furthermore, platelet aggregation
induced by adenosine diphosphate and collagen was significantly
inhibited 2 and 4 hours after garlic ingestion and remained lower for 7
to 14 days after treatment (30). Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study investigated the effects of garlic on platelet aggregation
in 60 subjects with increased risk of juvenile ischaemic attack (29).
Daily ingestion of 800 mg of powdered garlic for 4 weeks significantly
decreased the percentage of circulating platelet aggregates and spontaneous
platelet aggregation as compared with the placebo group (29).
Oral administration of garlic powder (800 mg/day) to 120 patients for
4 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study decreased the average
blood glucose by 11.6% (30). Another study found no such activity
after dosing noninsulin-dependent patients with 700 mg/day of a spraydried
garlic preparation for 1 month (127).
Contraindications
Bulbus Allii Sativi is contraindicated in patients with a known allergy to
the drug. The level of safety for Bulbus Allii Sativi is reflected by its
worldwide use as a seasoning in food.
Warnings
Consumption of large amounts of garlic may increase the risk of postoperative
bleeding (128, 129).
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