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Garlic

Tỏi

Allium sativum

Liliaceae · Củ · Bulbs · Steam-distilled

Garlic essential oil (Allium sativum) — botanical illustration
Allium sativum

Safety

Toxic · Inhibits blood clotting

Moderately toxic. Inhibits blood clotting. Moderate risk of skin irritation. Moderate risk of skin sensitization.

Oral: caution with anticoagulant medication, before major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia.

Dermal: avoid on hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin, and on children under 2 years.

Recommended initial dermal concentration is no more than 0.1 percent, allergic reaction risk.

Diallyl disulfide is the main skin sensitizer. ACD reports exist from fresh garlic and garlic oil, especially in children.

Garlic oil strongly inhibits platelet aggregation. Doses of 18 mg daily over 4 weeks significantly reduced platelet aggregation in 20 healthy adults.


Usage guidelines

Maximum dermal level
0.1 percent (initial recommendation)
Drug interactions
Anticoagulants

Chemistry

Volatile constituents
Diallyl trisulfide18.0 – 48.8 %
Diallyl disulfide25.2 – 46.8 %
Methyl allyl trisulfide8.3 – 18.2 %
Methyl allyl disulfide3.9 – 12.2 %
Propyl allyl disulfide0.26 – 7.2 %
Methyl allyl tetrasulfide0.04 – 5.9 %
Dimethyl trisulfide0.5 – 3.3 %
Diallyl sulfide1.1 – 2.4 %
Diallyl pentasulfide2.1 %
Methyl allyl pentasulfide1.6 %
Dimethyl tetrasulfide1.3 %

Botanical source

Allium sativum is garlic, cultivated for at least 5000 years from Central Asia. Now ubiquitous in global cuisine and medicine.

The oil is steam-distilled from the bulbs. True essential oil production (as distinct from mass-market 'garlic oil' diluted with vegetable oil) is limited.

Family Liliaceae. Same family as onion, chive, leek, all sulfur-rich.


Quality

May be adulterated with synthetic sulfur compounds such as propenyl disulfides.


Notes

Garlic oil is not used in perfumery due to its overpowering odor. Mainly used internally in aromatherapy, not topically. Garlic's anticarcinogenic action comes partly from induction of phase II detoxifying enzymes (glutathione S-transferase).

Other sulfur-rich Allium oils (leek oil) may present similar risks.