Analytical method for appreciation of garlic therapeutic potential and for validation of a new formulation

The consumption of garlic reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, S-allylcysteine sulfoxide (alliin), allicin (DATi), diallyl disulfide (DADS), S-allyleysteine (SAC) and several storage dipeptides are the organo-sulphur compounds (OSC) involved in the protective mechanism of garlic against cardiovascular disorders and carcinogenesis. Thus it is very interesting to quantify simultaneously all these compounds in different garlic powders obtained in several cultural conditions. The quantification of OSC by a new ion-pair HPLC method allowed showing the general sulphur-dependence positive effect of garlic on cardiovascular disorder and carcinogenesis and the variable specific activity of each implicated OSC. The screening of I I garlic tablets proposed on the market showed the variability and particularly the differential instability of each OSC. From these results, a new garlic tablet was realised and each step was controlled by this method. This analytical method proved to be a very powerful tool for the understanding of the garlic protective mechanism against cancer and cardiovascular diseases and the development and quality control of garlic tablets. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.