Allium sativum L (garlic) has a lengthy history as being a food and spice
having a unique taste and odor along with many medicinal properties. Garlic is
considered to be a natural medicine against variety of human ailments, including
various antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal infections, antithrombotic, anticancer and
anti tumorogenic activities. All these activities are linked to the level of organosulfur
compounds like allicin, flavonoids, and phenolic components in it. Freshly chopped
garlic contains Allicin, which is one of the highly biologically dynamic component.
Allicin has reported to have a number of bioactivities including antioxidant, antiinflammatory
activities. Many cardiovascular activities of allicin also have been
worked out. The present paper reviews one of the major active ingredients in garlic –
allicin – for its medicinal importance.
Keywords: Allicin, Allium sativum, Anti-cancer activities, Molecular targets.
