title: The pharmacological effects of allicin, a constituent of garlic oil.
abstract: Garlic has been used in herbal medicine for thousands of years. While garlic oil contains many components and has been widely studied, the pharmacology of pure allicin, a constituent of garlic oil, is not well understood. We report that allicin inhibits human platelet aggregation in vitro without affecting cyclooxygenase or thromboxane synthase activity or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels. Allicin does not alter the activity of vascular prostacyclin synthase. However, it inhibits ionophore A23187-stimulated human neutrophil lysosomal enzyme release. In vivo allicin dilates the mesenteric circulation of the cat independent of prostaglandin release or a beta adrenergic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mayeux
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tou
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lippton
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kadowitz
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D004220:Disulfides; D005737:Garlic; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D004220:Disulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C006452:allicin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D005966:Glucuronidase