संस्कृत नाम- लशुनः
Botanical name - Allium sativum
Description - Hardy perennial bulbous scapigerous herb; stem flat, dry, lower portion of the plant forms bulb which consists of several smaller bulbs called cloves, surrounded by a thin white or pinkish sheath; leaves flat, narrow green; heads bear small white flowers and bulbils.
Chemical_Constituents- It Contains an essential oil with allyl propyldisulphide, diallyldisulphide, more sulphur compounds, Allicin, alliatin 1 & 2, And two antiseptic and hypotensive principles. Bulbs contain essential oil, several gama-glutamyl peptides, several amino acids, gamma glutamyl-S-alkylcysteines, allicin and other thiosulfinates, Bulbs, roots, leaves contain steroidal glycosides sativoside, degalactotigonin and F-gitonin. Oil of bulb contains fatty acids.
Uses - The drug is expectorant, carminative and .stimulant. It is used in intermittent fevers, coughs, Atonic dyspepsia, flatulence, colic and skin diseases. Garlic preparations are used in pulmonary phthisis, gangrene of the lung and whooping cough. Juice used in laryngeal tuberculosis, lupus and duodenal ulcers, applied in skin troubles and as ear drops. . Modern use: Bulb: antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, effective in rheumatism, catarrhal conditions; Raw garlic : decreases glucose, cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, useful in dyspepsia, cryptococcal meningitis, rickettsia; applied externally as resolvent to indolent tumours, internally given with common salt in nervous diseases, headache; Liniment: beneficial in infantile convulsion and other spasmodic affections; Juice : applied to bruises and sprain, relieves earache, allays pain in otorrhoea; preparation have been given to pulmonary phthisis, bronchitis, gangrene of the lung and whooping cough; Garlic juice : good for treatment of laryngeal tuberculosis, lupus and duodenal ulcer; Inhalation of fresh garlic juice: useful in pulmonary tuberculosis, dyspepsia, flatulence and colic; in external application, the juice is used as a rubefacient; in skin diseases, as an eyedrop and in earache.