Forms of garlic, which contain no allicin (e.g., cooked, steamed, microwaved
and aged garlic extract), have demonstrated an array of benefits in studies.
Therefore, it is logical that compounds other than allicin are responsible for
such benefits. To date, well over 100 compounds have been identified in garlic
preparations. Presently, S-allyl cysteine appears to be a very
promising compound with good absorption. The pharmacokinetic
studies of S-allyl cysteine demonstrated rapid absorption and almost 100%
bioavailability after oral administration. In addition, since both the safety
and effectiveness of S-allyl cysteine have been reported, this compound appears
to play an important role in garlic's medicinal effects.
Since individual compounds, such as S-allyl cysteine, have shown activity in studies and are absorbed by the body, it is likely that a synergism of various compounds provide the benefits of garlic.
Anti-Microbial effects
Pharmacological studies found that it has a very wide anti-microbe spectrum. It has anti bacterial, anti mycobacterium, anti fungal, anti protozoa, and anti viral properties.
Anti bacterial effects
A 0.5% aqueous solution of the bulb was lethal to Salmonella typhi within five minutes after contact. It was significantly bacteriostatic or bactericidal against the following: Staphylococci, Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia, Shigelia dysentery, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and paratyphi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, var. hominis, and Vibrio cholerae. Bacteria resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, or chlortetracycline were sensitive to allitridi. The mechanism of the antibacterial action of allitridi involved a combination of its oxygen atom with cysteine to avert the formation of cystine, thus interrupting essential oxidation and reduction reactions in the bacteria.
Anti fungal effects
Anti fungal action was observed in vitro against Schlemm’s Dermatomyces flavosa, Trichophyton vilaceum, and Candida albicans. In vitro tests proved that 1-125 mcg/ml of diallyl thiosulfonate was inhibitory against Candida albicans as was 0.05-1 mcg/ml to Cryptococcus rubrae and 3.2-12.5 mcg/ml to Cryptococcus. The minimum inhibitory dose of allitridi on fungi was 1mcg/ml; its effect was about the same as that of amphotericin B, but was far less toxic.
Anti protozoal effects.
The ameba trophozoites soon lost their activity upon direct contact with the 5-15% aqueous suspension of the bulb. Experiments using direct contact and fumigation methods showed that garlic juice killed all Trichomonas organisms in 10-25 minutes, and the volatile components in 90-180 minutes, whereas 0.5% of the bulb filtrate deactivated Trichomonas vaginalis in five minutes. A 0.1% injective preparation of the bulb was lethal to tsutsugarnushi fever, including richettsiasis.
2. Anti-neoplastic and other effects
Allitridi has anti-neoplastic effects. It has anti-mitotic action against the cells of ascites sarcoma MTK-1 in rats and those of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice. The fresh garlic bulb fed to C3H/He female mice completely suppressed breast cancer. The active component might be allicin. In ascitic and solid types of liver carcinoma in mice, the garlic oil significantly prolonged the survival period of the animals. Marked inhibitory action was detected against many solid sarcoma in animals after intraperitoneal or intra-tumor injection of the oil at dose of 50 to 100 mg/kg; the inhibition rate was 40-50%. The anti-mitotic effect of the synthetic garlic oil on cancer cells which eventually led to cell death was more pronounced and stable than that of the natural garlic oil. The main anti-neoplastic component is therefore, preliminary diallyl thiosulfonate (allitridi). This garlic ingredient has also immune enhancing, and blood lipid reducing effects, etc.
3. Pharmacokinetics
After intake of S-labeled allitridi orally, the total radioactivity in organs peaked in four hours, and in eight hours it was reduced to half of the peak value. After intravenous injection of allitridi into mice, concentrations detected 10 minutes later were highest in the lungs, and in descending order in the heart, intestines, blood, fat, brain, muscles, spleen, and liver. The metabolism of allitridi in the body was very rapid; most of the intravenous dose was transformed into water-soluble metabolites within 10 minutes, and was rapidly distributed to all organs. The main route of excretion was the urine, and partly the feces.
4. Toxicity
It has almost no toxicity with an LD50 of 134.9mg/kg in mice; 67.45 to 134.9 times higher than its therapeutic dose (1 to 2 mg/kg). Rabbits fed with 0.15% of allitridi at a dose of 3ml/kg twice daily for 10 weeks show no pathological change in the liver, spleen, adrenal glands, and lungs. Allitridi is a very safe substance.
D. Clinical Applications: It has been used for:
1. Lyme Disease, as an anti-spirochete agent, because it has strong ability passing blood brain barrier, it is especially good for central nerve system infections.
2. Bacterial infections. It suppresses gram positive and negative bacteria. Good for bronchitis, sinusitis. For tuberculosis, especially for drug-resistant T.B.
3. Fungal infections, Candidiasis and deep fungal infections
4. Protozoa infections, Amebic dysentery,
5. Use as strong anti-oxidant
Allitirdi has been clinically used in China for more than twenty years. It is potent enough to treat many common infections, such as bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, deep fungal infections (cryptococcus maligitis), whooping cough, endobronchial tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, oxyuriasis, trichomonas vaginitis, etc. For most of these conditions, the cure rate is above 80 percent. Recent studies done by the AIDS Research Alliance in Los Angeles and our clinical experience found that it can be used to treat cryptosporidiosis. Our clinic has been using this substance successfully to treat many infectious conditions.