HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harris, J. C. Articles by Lloyd, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harris, J. C. Articles by Lloyd, D. Agricola Articles by Harris, J. C. Articles by Lloyd, D.

The microaerophilic flagellate Giardia intestinalis: Allium sativum (garlic) is an effective antigiardial

Microbiology Group, School of Biosciences (BIOSI Main Building), Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3TL, UK¹
Cultech Biospeciality Products, York Chambers, York Street, Swansea SA1 3NJ, UK²

Author for correspondence: Janine C. Harris. Tel: +44 29 2087 6350. Fax: +44 29 2087 4305. e-mail: harrisjc{at}cf.ac.uk

Whole garlic (Allium sativum L.) extract and some of its components were assayed for antigiardial activity. Whole garlic extract gave an IC₅₀ at 24 h of 0·3 mg ml^-1. Most of the components assayed were inhibitory to the organism, especially allyl alcohol and allyl mercaptan, with IC₅₀ values of 7 µg ml^-1 and 37 µg ml^-1 respectively. Studies with calcofluor white indicated that whole garlic and allyl alcohol collapse the transmembrane electrochemical membrane potential () of the organism, as indicated by uptake of the fluorochrome. Electron microscopy allowed the morphological changes that occur with garlic inhibition to be recorded. Both the surface topography and internal architecture of the organism changed during incubation with the biocides. Both whole garlic and allyl alcohol resulted in fragmentation of the disc and an overexpression of disc microribbons, internalization of flagella, vacuole formation and an increase in distended vesicles. Allyl mercaptan, however, only gave an increase in distended vesicles, suggesting that this biocide has a different mode of action.

Keywords: allyl alcohol, allyl mercaptan, protozoan, calcofluor white

Abbreviations: NOS, nitric oxide synthase; iNOS, calcium-independent nitric oxide synthase; XTT, 2,3 bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro sulphophenyl)-5[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H tetrazolium; see Table 1 for abbreviations of garlic components

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. M. Lemar, O. Passa, M. A. Aon, S. Cortassa, C. T. Muller, S. Plummer, B. O'Rourke, and D. Lloyd Allyl alcohol and garlic (Allium sativum) extract produce oxidative stress in Candida albicans Microbiology, October 1, 2005; 151(10): 3257 - 3265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]