Many studies show the benefits you can get from garlic. In fact, garlic is the most researched and studied medicinal plant because of its great potential in the field of medicine. One of these is the ability to fight against certain types of cancer. So what is it in garlic that’s responsible for its healing properties? Well, it is the allium compounds. 

The allium compounds actually come from Allium sativum, which is commonly known as garlic.  In the making of the allium compounds, the fresh garlic bulb is usually dehydrated, and crushed into a powder.  After that, it is then compacted to produce a tablet.   It is the tablet form that is most regularly applied as a commercial preparation of garlic.

Now what are the health benefits of the allium compounds?

Numerous studies have been conducted for allium compounds.  And fortunately those studies bring out some of the fundamental uses of the allium compounds.  There are also some well-known investigations that are mainly focusing on the potential advantages of the allium compounds in lessening the cardiovascular disease danger, for the main reason that allium compounds have a lipid-lowering effect, as well as antithrombotic effects.  And aside from that, the potential of the allium compounds for anti-tumor and anti-microbial effects are also being studied by some experts. 

The cholesterol lowering effects of Allium compounds in humans, which in turn are attributed to garlic, have been well documented by some experts to really see the possible outcome from such applications.  It was found from the study that garlic, from which this supplement is created, may reduce the total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, while heightening the level of HDL.  In fact, certain outcomes of one of the clinical studies conducted, reported that there is a mean reduction of six percent on the total serum cholesterol, and eleven percent in the LDL.  

Those studies that are conducted to find out the health benefits of Allium compounds reported that an allium compound known as methylallyltrisulphide, which is found in garlic oil, has been associated with the inhibition of platelet aggregation.  There is also another allium compound with the name of ajoene, which is recently being studied and investigated for the belief that it has a great effect on platelet aggregation. 

However, the mechanism for such studies still remains unclear, but the preliminary pilot studies with AIDS patients suggest that garlic, along with its allium compounds, has a great effect in reducing morbidity. 

Some people went as far as believing that allium compounds in garlic also ward off the evil spirits. This belief, actually, is still being practiced nowadays. Aside from garlic, you can get allium compounds in onions, chives, leeks and scallions.