A Dig Deep to Scout the Pharmacological and Clinical Facet of Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic, Allium sativum L., is a culinary herb that has been employed medicinally since ancient times. Garlic has been regarded as the oldest of all cultivated plants. Various experimental as well as human studies have demonstrated that garlic is used in preventing the initiation and evolution of several ailments such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, cancer, microbial infections, arthritis, thrombosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. It can also act as an anti-oxidant. The preclinical toxicity study gives an impression that garlic is safe, although allergic reactions may occur. Recently, there has been systematic research regarding garlic, and positive results have been attained in healing many diseases. For centuries many countries of different civilizations and continents protected their populations and healed themselves using garlic. Therefore, there is an augmented necessity of investigation on the history of garlic for the sake of strengthening the ability of physicians and pharmacists to deal with the challenges arising in the provision of specialized facilities to serve mankind. The present review provides morphological, pharmacological, and toxicological insight regarding garlic. Further studies are required to explicate the therapeutic mode of action of garlic along with its potency, effectiveness, and clinical wellbeing in the management of different ailments.