quote:Garlic blocks quorum sensing and promotes rapid clearing of pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections Thomas Bjarnsholt1, Peter �strup Jensen2, Thomas B. Rasmussen1, Lars Christophersen2, Henrik Calum2, Morten Hentzer3, Hans-Petter Hougen4, J�rgen Rygaard5, Claus Moser2, Leo Eberl6, Niels H�iby2 and Michael Givskov1
The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the predominant micro-organism of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. P. aeruginosa colonizes the lungs by forming biofilm microcolonies throughout the lung. Quorum sensing (QS) renders the biofilm bacteria highly tolerant to otherwise lethal doses of antibiotics, and protects against the bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). It has been previously demonstrated that QS is inhibited by garlic extract. In this study, the synergistic effects of garlic and tobramycin, and PMNs activities have been evaluated. P. aeruginosa was grown in vitro in continuous-culture once-through flow chambers with and without garlic extract. The garlic-treated biofilms were susceptible to both tobramycin and PMN grazing. Furthermore, the PMNs showed an increase in respiratory burst activation, when incubated with the garlic-treated biofilm. Garlic extract was administered as treatment for a mouse pulmonary infection model. Mice were treated with garlic extract or placebo for 7 days, with the initial 2 days being prophylactic before P. aeruginosa was instilled in the left lung of the mice. Bacteriology, mortality, histopathology and cytokine production were used as indicators. The garlic treatment initially provoked a higher degree of inflammation, and significantly improved clearing of the infecting bacteria. The results indicate that a QS-inhibitory extract of garlic renders P. aeruginosa sensitive to tobramycin, respiratory burst and phagocytosis by PMNs, as well as leading to an improved outcome of pulmonary infections.
quote: Effects of Fresh Garlic Extract on Candida albicans BiofilmsJennifer A. Shuford, James M. Steckelberg, and Robin Patel* The effects of fresh garlic extract (FGE) against planktonic Candida spp. have been demonstrated in vitro and have been attributed to the action of allicin (3), a sulfur-containing compound that is formed at levels of approximately 3 to 5 mg/g of fresh clove (8). Biofilm-associated, or sessile, Candida albicans organisms demonstrate increased resistance to traditional antifungal agents that have activity against their planktonic counterparts (5). Therefore, we investigated the activity of FGE against both planktonic and sessile forms of C. albicans.
quote: 0411 Garlic Allicin as a Means to Control Oral Pathogens A. JAMIL1, D. STEINBERG1, Z. LUDMER2, T. GOLAN2, R. NAOR1, and G. BACHRACH1, 1Hebrew University Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel, 2Hebrew University, Rhovot, IsraelIntroduction: Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative anaerobe that is implicated as the major etiologic agent of adult periodontitis. P. gingivalis produces cysteine proteinases termed gingipains, in cell-associated and secretory forms. Gingipains consist of arginine-X-specific proteinases (Arg-gingipains, Rgps) and lysine-X-specific proteinase (Lys-gingipain, Kgsp). Previous studies using various P. gingivalis mutants deficient in the Rgp- and/or Kgp-encoding genes revealed that these enzymes are important for the bacterium's virulence and survival in the periodontal pockets. Thus, development of gingipains inhibitors provides new therapeutic approaches to treat periodontal diseases. Herbal extracts have been used as therapeutic agents throughout the human history. Allicin is a powerful medicinal compound derived from garlic and provides reputed health benefits. Aim: In this study the potential of a unique garlic allicin extract was tested as a means to control oral pathogens. Materials and Methods: Allicin was extracted from garlic and stabilized by solvent extraction. Bacterial growth inhibition by allicin was determined using the broth dilution method. Allicin's antiproteolytic activity was determined using nondenaturing SDS-polyacrylamid gel zymography and by using the chromogenic substrate N-benzoyl -L-Arg-p-nitroanilide(pNA). Streptococcus mutans biofilm inhibition and killing was determined using live dead staining followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: 1- Allicin was found to inhibit growth of all tested bacteria (P. gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus (Aggregatibacter) actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrainus, Escherichia coli, and Actinomyces viscosus). 2 - Allicin was found to be a potent irreversible inhibitor of the P. gingivalis proteases. 3- Allicin was found capable of killing S.mutans growth in biofilm. Conclusion: Our results suggest that our Garlic allicin extract has a potential use for prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.
Control of Biofilm Infections by Signal Manipulation http://bit.ly/cYCgGU Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Good information!
Pass the garlic please!!
Thanks!
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Sweetness.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Last line from abstract above.
" . . .Our results suggest that our Garlic allicin extract has a potential use for prevention and treatment of periodontal disease."
While that may be true, an enteric coated capsule swallowed, will still help the mouth. Garlic need not be applied to the mouth. It can if care is taken, but it can also burn terribly.
A VERY dilute solution, lots of water to a TINY amount of garlic can help the mouth but also can burn tissue in the mouth, throat, esophagus, etc. so be VERY careful.
Garlic burns can be very serious. Some seem to do better chomping on a clove of raw garlic while another person may be burned from it.
For application directly in the mouth, andrographis has worked better for me - and it does not burn at all. It's very bitter, but does not burn.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.
AIMS:
The aim of this study is to determine the in vitro activity of allicin against Staphylococcus epidermidis and to evaluate the influence of allicin on biofilm formation.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In vitro activity of allicin (diallyl thiosulphinate) against 38 strains of S. epidermidis was investigated.
The activity of allicin was similar against S. epidermidis methicillin susceptible and methicillin resistant strains [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)90=8 mg l(-1)].
In general, subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of allicin diminished biofilm formation in the five strains analysed.
CONCLUSION:
The results confirm the antibacterial effect of allicin. Sub-MICs of allicin also diminished the biofilm formations by S. epidermidis.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:
The present study shows that allicin is active in vitro against S. epidermidis and that sub-MICs of allicin may play a role in the prevention of adherence of this bacteria to medical devices.
Eur J Med Chem. 2009 Jul;44(7):2936-43. Epub 2008 Dec 25.
Synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial activities of andrographolide analogues.
Jiang X, Yu P, Jiang J, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Yang Z, Tian Z, Wright SC, Larrick JW, Wang Y.
Institute of New Drug Research, Jinan University College of Pharmacy, Guangzhou, China.
Andrographolide (Andro), the main active component of the herb Andrographis paniculata, has been used for many years to treat a variety of diseases including bacterial and viral infections.
Andro was recently reported to act by inhibiting the bacterial quorum sensing system. We have synthesized several Andro analogues and investigated their antibacterial activity and mechanism of action.
The new compounds were found to be much more potent than the parent Andro in inhibiting bacterial growth and quorum sensing system. Compounds 5 and 7 significantly reduced virulence factor production. Compound 7 completely inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) biofilm formation, and exhibited synergistic activity with conventional antibiotics.
These findings suggest that compound 7 may be the basis for future drug development to combat the unmet needs of virulence factor production, biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.
PMID: 19152987 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Andrographis has a full chapter in the book by Buhner: "Healing Lyme" -
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
I just eat lots of raw garlic and garlic's cousin onion.
Posted by ninjaphire (Member # 18234) on :
On second page. Bump so more people can see it.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
i was breifly just swollowing a whole clove of raw garlic does this work or does it need to be chopped up?
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
I think it would be better if it were chopped up. However, be aware that you can get severely nauseous by doing that. (Buhner says in one of his books something like 'raw garlic can cause explosive vomiting- you won't die, but you'll wish you would')
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
there are a few garlic posts in the 'herbal links' thread in my signature. I used to chop it, then put it into large gelatin capsules by using a very small funnel that I happened to have on hand, and freeze them. It was a lot of work. I'd eat them with a meal. My boyfriend complained horribly about the garlic smell, and we were actually pretty heavy garlic eaters and he wasn't normally all that squeamish about odors.
Posted by Mrs. Barthead (Member # 23995) on :
I eat lots of garlic, (would put it in my cheerios if I could ) but have read that Allicin is the component of garlic that yields the results we are looking for. Not sure that we could eat as much garlic as we would like. I read it is best to buy it freeze dried, as the garlic capsules on the shelf have a 2 week life span. if anyone knows of a good source, please pm me.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
maria did it help?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- The thing about raw garlic, the allicin dissipates very fast and it would take a ton of garlic to get a therapeutic amount of allicin. Still, some raw garlic has good effects (as long as someone can handle it). More than 2 cloves a day can cause anemia, according to Dr. Jensen in "Garlic Healing Powers" (book).
The process of encapsulating garlic - if done correctly - captures allicin at much higher level. -
Posted by Kastroo (Member # 22825) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
) but have read that Allicin is the component of garlic that yields the results we are looking for. Not sure that we could eat as much garlic as we would like. I read it is best to buy it freeze dried, as the garlic capsules on the shelf have a 2 week life span. if anyone knows of a good source, please pm me.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)