Garlic (Allium sativum) is a bulbous perennial herb belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. Widely used as a spice and traditional remedy, garlic is revered for its strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cardioprotective properties.
Garlic Scientific Name
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Angiosperms
- Class: Monocots
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Genus: Allium
- Species: Allium sativum
Garlic Common Name
- English: Garlic
- Sanskrit: Lashuna
- Hindi: Lahsun
- Tamil: Poondu
- Telugu: Vellulli
- Malayalam: Veluthulli
- Gujarati: Lasan
- Marathi: Lasun
- Bengali: Roshun
Garlic Uses
- Cardiovascular Support – Garlic helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
- Antimicrobial and Antifungal – Contains natural antibiotic compounds effective against a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- Immunity Booster – Enhances the immune response, supports detoxification, and helps fight infections.
- Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory – Scavenges free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Digestive and Respiratory Health – Acts as a digestive stimulant and is used traditionally for cold, cough, and bronchitis.
- Anti-diabetic & Metabolic Health – Supports blood sugar regulation and may improve insulin sensitivity.
References
Aurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Govt. of India.
European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition, Council of Europe.
Banerjee, S.K., & Maulik, S.K. (2002). “Effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorders: a review.” Nutrition Journal, 18(6), 704–711.
Amagase, H., Petesch, B.L., Matsuura, H., Kasuga, S., & Itakura, Y. (2001). “Intake of garlic and its bioactive components.” Journal of Nutrition, 131(3s), 955S–962S.
Ankri, S., & Mirelman, D. (1999). “Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic.” Microbes and Infection, 1(2), 125–129.
Rivlin, R.S. (2001). “Historical perspective on the use of garlic.” Journal of Nutrition, 131(3s), 951S–954S.
The Wealth of India, (2003), CSIR, New Delhi.
Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L., & Chopra, I.C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, CSIR, New Delhi.
Ross, I.A. (2001). Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses. Vol. 2. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.