Antibacterial effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) on Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has an important dietary and medicinal role for centuries. It is a large annual plant of the Liliaceae family, which grows in most of Europe and in northern Iran. Iranian garlic is used in traditional medicine for infectious diseases, flu and as an anti-febrile. The present study tested the aqueous extract of garlic in vitro for its antibacterial activity. The extract showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus 8327. This activity was heat resistant, but the activity of freeze-dried extract gradually diminished during a 90 days period. The traditional use of Iranian garlic for infectious diseases and for controlling fever appears to be justified. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.