Homeopathy employs garlic for mucosal inflammation. The biologic activity is primarily due to alkylcysteine sulfoxides, particularly alliins which are converted to allicin then dried resulting in oligosulfides and ajoene. These thiosulfinates are the major active components. Others include fructosans and saponins. Garlic is a proven oral and topical broad spectrum antimicrobial against gram-positive and gram-negatives with potency comparable to many antibiotics (3). The anti-yeast activity is comparable to nystatin and antifungal activity compares to seven other medicines including gentian violet. Garlic has antiviral activity against influenza B and herpes hominis I (11). This herb inhibits carcinogeneisis and cancer cell growth. Garlic tablets stimulate natural killer T cells to fight cancer, viral, and certain bacteria as well as enhance glutathione in cells. Ajoene inhibits clotting and bleeding times and platelet aggregation yet enhances fibirinolysis by inhibiting thromboxane, adenosine diphosphate, and collagen release. Garlic is also a major source of vitamins A, B-1, and C. Virtually odorless garlic based products are being marketed (3).
The adverse reactions due to topical garlic are contact irritant and allergic dermatitis and the distinctive halitosis (13). Avoid garlic while breastfeeding. Orally administered garlic increases bleeding during surgery especially if administered with other anticoagulants. It is administered in capsules, tablets, powder, and oil. A 0.4% ajoene cream successfully cleared all 34 patients of tinea pedis with 14 days of therapy (34).