Effect on active oxygen species of alliin and Allium sativum (garlic) powder.

Considering that oxygen toxicity and the related free radical attack are involved in many pathophysiological conditions, and that Allium sativum (ASP) has been used therapeutically for many of them since antiquity, we examined the intervention of ASP and alliin in free radical processes. It was found that ASP presented antioxidant activity and alliin was a very good hydroxyl radical scavenger. ASP presented good reducing ability, interacting with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical (DPPH). These results indicate an involvement of the active Alluim sativum ingredients in free radical processes.