An Updated Account of Multifaceted Medicinal Values of Garlic: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Garlic (Allium sativum L.), one of the most important medicinal plants and spices, has many neuroprotective medicinal properties. Garlic has been mentioned in Indian medical traditions and Chinese literature as a remedy for infectious and other non-communicable diseases. Raw garlic and its derivatives have been used to treat a variety of ailments. Objectives: In this article, we attempted to summarize the numerous characteristics of specific sulfur-containing garlic components that have been observed thus far, to have a variety of medicinal aspects. Methods: Non-overlapping literature sources from recent years were searched and extracted using databases such as Dimensions, Google Scholar, and PubMed. We have summarized the concluding outputs collectively from the systematic literature search. Second, the catalytic site of the alliinase enzyme was identified to be formed by Y165, N207, D225, Y228, and K251 amino acid residues. We investigated the interaction of active site residues with the alliinase enzyme's natural substrate further, and the catalytic mechanism was deduced using molecular docking. Results: Several studies on various garlic products and their numerous derivatives are currently being conducted and vividly reported. These studies have found that it has antitumor activity as well as the ability to treat digestive issues and ulcers. Additionally, several potential antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulant, etc. characteristics were reported by garlic components. Conclusion: In conclusion, the review focuses on the successful research on numerous novel garlic components and their derivatives, which may be useful in next-generation therapeutic approaches. In addition, it advises the use of garlic in moderation rather than carelessly.