title: Garlic for Cardiovascular Disease: Prevention or Treatment?
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality with a substantial economic impact. The annual deaths are expected to increase in the next decade. An array of dietary supplements is being used by people worldwide to ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors. Garlic (Allium sativum L.), a top-selling herbal dietary supplement, is renowned for its wide range beneficial effects, particularly in the treatment and prevention of CVD. This review aims to present a thorough discussion of the available evidence-based data which support the use of garlic in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are dissected as well. This review supports the notion that garlic has the potential to treat mild hypertension, to decrease hypercholesterolemia, and to prevent atherosclerosis. More clinical studies are essential to unequivocally understand the mechanisms underlying treatment or prevention of these cardiovascular conditions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, P.O. Box 2713. Qatar.
authors.forename: Feras Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Alali
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110. Jordan.
authors.forename: Tamam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El-Elimat
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110. Jordan.
authors.forename: Lila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110. Jordan.
authors.forename: Reema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hudaib
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha. Qatar.
authors.forename: Tuqa Saleh
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Al-Shehabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut. Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Eid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Allium sativum; Cardiovascular disease; atherosclerosis; garlic; herbal medicine; hyperlipidemia; hypertension; thrombosis