Garlic Dillon Kish, Student Pharmacist Spring 2023

Dose:

Daily dose of 2 to 5 g of fresh raw garlic

0.4 to 1.2 g of dried garlic powder

Mechanism:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingre dient-focus-garlic

Common names: Allium, Camphor of the poor, Dasuan

2 to 5 mg garlic oil 300 to 1,000 mg of garlic extract (as a solid material)

2,400 mg/day of aged garlic extract (liquid)

Background/history:

The use of garlic dates to five thousand years ago. Garlic was once used as antibiotics in pharmaceutical products. Garlic was used throughout various pandemics such as influenza, dysentery, and cholera. Garlic was used for health purposes by different regions of the world such as Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and Japan. But now garlic is mostly used as a flavoring for food.

Garlic powder ranged from 300 to 2,400 mg/day for 2 to 24 weeks when evaluating effects of garlic on blood pressure

Purported/common uses: Garlic is used as a dietary supplement that is thought to help with cardiovascular and blood vessel conditions, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, reduces inflammation, and antimicrobial activity.

Scientific name: Allium sativum

The alliin in garlic is what creates the pharmacological benefits. Once garlic is crushed alliin turns into allicin. Garlic can inhibit the renin angiotensin aldosterone system and prostaglandin synthesis. This process creates vasodilation because garlic can inhibit ACE, aangiotensin converting enzyme. A reduction in ACE activity causes a reduction in angiotensin II, which is a direct vasoconstrictor. This also causes a decrease of aldosterone produced by the adrenal gland. The reduction of aldosterone decreases the reabsorption of sodium and water from the distal convoluted renal tube. This decreases plasma volume.

Effectiveness:

Taking garlic for at least 8 weeks reduced total cholesterol and low LDL in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Interactions:

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: Garlic increases risk of bleeding due to having antiplatelet activity and can increase prothrombin.

Antidiabetic drugs: Garlic can increase risk of hypoglycemia because garlic lowers blood glucose levels.

Antihypertensive drugs: Garlic can increase the risk of hypotension because garlic lowers blood pressure

Cytochrome P450 2E1 substrates: Garlic can increase levels of any drug that is metabolized by CYP2E1. Garlic can inhibit the activity of CYP2E1 by 39%.

Side Effects:

Body odor, bloating, GI irritation

Opinion: I believe that garlic is an effective alternative medicine. Through learning about the mechanism of garlic in the body it works similarly to many prescribed medications by interacting with the same receptors in the body.

D Kish

Summary of Article:

A clinical study on the relationship between aged garlic powder and hypertension patients lasted 8 weeks. Forty patients were given one capsule of 600 mg aged garlic powder twice a day for four weeks, then a control period with no garlic. During the first phase, patients’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure both decreased. During the second phase it was seen that both their blood pressure levels increased back to the original levels.

Warnings:

Do not take if allergic to garlic. allergy.

References: https://www.ebmconsult.com/a rticles/garlic-lowers-bloodpressurehypertension#:~:text= Garlic's%20ability%20to%20l ower%20the,2S%20that%20re sults%20in

Garlic. EBM consult. EBM Consult, LLC. Bethesda, MD. February 25, 2023.

Garlic. Lexicomp. Wolters

Kluwer Health, Inc.

Riverwoods, IL. February 24, 2023. https://online-lexicom.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/lc o/action/doc/retrieve/docid/fc_ rnp2/3750159?cesid=6fohgqA

4LPn&searchUrl=%2Flco%2F action%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dga rlic%26t%3Dname%26acs%3 Dfalse%26acq%3Dgarlic

Garlic. Natural Medicines. Therapeutic Research Center. Somerville MA. February 24, 2023. https://naturalmedicinestherapeuticresearchcom.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/da tabases/food,-herbssupplements/professional.aspx

?productid=300#effectiveness