Scientists in India have been investigating the effectiveness of the common herb, garlic (Allium sativum), in fighting pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infections. The key ingredient is a substance called allicin. This is the chemical responsible for the distinctive ‘garlic’ smell. Allicin is thought to be the defense mechanism of the garlic plant against various pests.
Garlic has traditionally been used for treating a range of diseases, going back thousands of years. Various strands of recent research have indicated that garlic, or rather the extract allicin, has antimicrobial properties. The new research adds to this literature and directs studies towards a new area of infection — the urinary tract.
In a new study, researchers found that 56 percent of 166 bacteria found from urine infections were resistant to common antibiotics. When the same set of bacteria were challenged against allicin extract, only 28 percent showed resistance and 82 percent were susceptible to the compound.
UTIs are very common and painful, which makes the new finding of importance. It is a popular misconception that urine is sterile. Urine is not sterile, even before it comes out of you and gets contaminated by your skin. The basis of the research is that alternative drugs could be developed, as an alternative to current antimicrobials. Further study will be needed; however, the results to date are promising. The key part of any future research will be around how the compound can be delivered into the body (whether orally or by injection.)
The study was performed at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences. The findings have been published in Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. The research is headed “Garlic: An Effective Functional Food to Combat the Growing Antimicrobial Resistance.”
In related news, microbiologists have found that allicin inhibits the growth of bacteria and, at higher doses, kills pathogens that are associated with cystic fibrosis .
