Against Bacillus anthracis
The outbreak of anthrax in the USA in 2002, thought to have been linked with ter-
rorism, killed four people and generated widespread panic in the US. Anxious cit-
izens were reported to be asking doctors for antibiotics to prevent infection.
Anthrax is primarily a disease of cattle and sheep; horses and pigs are also sus-
ceptible, but are less commonly affected. The bacillus is almost always transmitted
to humans from lower animals rather than from other humans. The pulmonary
form of anthrax, transmitted by inhalation of the microorganisms (spores) floating
in the air, is the most dangerous [7].
In serial experiments on the functional activities of garlic, we found that 1% of
garlic powder in water killed Bacillus anthracis at 107 mL–1 after 3 h of treatment
[8] (Table 4.3). Most experiments reported were carried out in vitro [4, 9, 10], and
there have been very few in vivo studies.
Next we designed an experiment with mice to find out how garlic powder worked
against living bacteria in the intestine. Briefly, 1% of garlic powder in water was ad-
ministered orally to mice by catheter once daily for three days, and the number of
living bacteria in feces were counted. It was found that oral administration of gar-
lic powder worked effectively in vivo to reduce the number of living bacteria in the
intestine (Table 4.4). This result suggests that garlic (powder) probably works in vivo
against an invading pathogen. However, it is not recommended to take raw gar-
lic in large doses, because it can cause numerous symptoms, such as stomach dis-
orders, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and others.
4.2 Garlic 83
Table 4.3 Bacillus anthracis-killing potency of garlic powder prepared from old garlic bulbs.
Incubation time (h) Number of living bacteria (cfu mL–1)
In 1% garlic powder In distilled water
0 2.0107 2.0107
1 4.1104 ND
3 0 1.0107
6 0 4.0107
cfu, colony forming unit.
B. anthracis was added to 1% garlic powder in water and kept at room temperature for analysis [8].
Table 4.4 Effect of feeding garlic powder to mice on the number of living bacteria in the feces.
Group Number of living bacteria (cfu/excrement)
1% Garlic powder fed 2.3105
Water fed 5.4106
cfu, colony forming unit one excrement.
One per cent solution of garlic powder was fed by catheter once daily for three days, then animals were
sacrificed on day 4 for analysis.
The outbreak of anthrax in the USA in 2002, thought to have been linked with ter-
rorism, killed four people and generated widespread panic in the US. Anxious cit-
izens were reported to be asking doctors for antibiotics to prevent infection.
Anthrax is primarily a disease of cattle and sheep; horses and pigs are also sus-
ceptible, but are less commonly affected. The bacillus is almost always transmitted
to humans from lower animals rather than from other humans. The pulmonary
form of anthrax, transmitted by inhalation of the microorganisms (spores) floating
in the air, is the most dangerous [7].
In serial experiments on the functional activities of garlic, we found that 1% of
garlic powder in water killed Bacillus anthracis at 107 mL–1 after 3 h of treatment
[8] (Table 4.3). Most experiments reported were carried out in vitro [4, 9, 10], and
there have been very few in vivo studies.
Next we designed an experiment with mice to find out how garlic powder worked
against living bacteria in the intestine. Briefly, 1% of garlic powder in water was ad-
ministered orally to mice by catheter once daily for three days, and the number of
living bacteria in feces were counted. It was found that oral administration of gar-
lic powder worked effectively in vivo to reduce the number of living bacteria in the
intestine (Table 4.4). This result suggests that garlic (powder) probably works in vivo
against an invading pathogen. However, it is not recommended to take raw gar-
lic in large doses, because it can cause numerous symptoms, such as stomach dis-
orders, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and others.
4.2 Garlic 83
Table 4.3 Bacillus anthracis-killing potency of garlic powder prepared from old garlic bulbs.
Incubation time (h) Number of living bacteria (cfu mL–1)
In 1% garlic powder In distilled water
0 2.0107 2.0107
1 4.1104 ND
3 0 1.0107
6 0 4.0107
cfu, colony forming unit.
B. anthracis was added to 1% garlic powder in water and kept at room temperature for analysis [8].
Table 4.4 Effect of feeding garlic powder to mice on the number of living bacteria in the feces.
Group Number of living bacteria (cfu/excrement)
1% Garlic powder fed 2.3105
Water fed 5.4106
cfu, colony forming unit one excrement.
One per cent solution of garlic powder was fed by catheter once daily for three days, then animals were
sacrificed on day 4 for analysis.
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