You must have seen or read several posts and messages on WhatsApp about garlic and virus. Do you really know the truth?
Many nations are battling coronavirus (COVID19) and the number is increasing.
While this happens, several claims have been made as to remedies for coronavirus.
This is why it is important that you know the truth.
Interestingly, this messages circulated about garlic has gone far and wide.
Some persons erroneously believe everything.
Garlic is a herb. It grows in different countries of the world including Nigeria. Also, it is related to onion, leeks, and chives.
It is thought that garlic is native to Siberia, but spread to other parts of the world over 5000 years ago.
Garlic is most commonly used for conditions related to the heart and blood system.
One of the areas that have been researched is its effect on viruses.
Garlic And Virus
First, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed claims.
“There is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus,”the world health body wrote on its website.
However, beyond this, we looked at what could have triggered the claims you may have read.
A study of 2016 looked at the properties of garlic and the chances of it having a positive effect on viruses.
Conducted in Iran, the study used garlic extract. It probed into the effect of this on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) which is a coronavirus.
However, the current strain of coronavirus is different from the one studied. Scientists have said that this one is a new strain.
Furthermore, the study was performed on four groups of embryonic Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) eggs.
It found that “as a primary mixture of different strains of IBV and garlic extract had greater inhibitory effects on non-acute strain than acute one.
“And using garlic extract as a treatment 8 hours after exposure to different strains of IBV had a significant inhibitory effect which was similar on both field and vaccine strain”.
Active Against Some Viruses
Also, there are other researches also that have looked at the antiviral activity of garlic, with some focusing on influenza flu.
In most of the researches, the research wrote that although the precise mechanism in garlic has not been defined, “garlic extract with a good selectivity index (SI) has inhibitory effect on the virus penetration and proliferation in cell culture.
Few other studies also reported that garlic extract showed in vitro activity against these viruses.
Influenza A and B (Fenwick and Hanley, 1985).
Cytomegalovirus (Meng et al., 1993), Nai-Lan et al., 1993).
Rhinovirus, HIV, herpes simplex virus 1 (Tsai et al., 1985).
Herpes simplex virus 2 (Weber et al., 1992).
It was also effective on viral pneumonia, and rotavirus and Allicin (a kind of alcohol in garlic), diallyl trisulfide and ajoene (compounds derived from garlic) have all been shown to be active (Hughes et al., 1989; Weber., 1992).
Have you read: Coronavirus: Here Are Things You Should Know And Do
Sadly, coronavirus is making some people seriously ill (pneumonia, breathing problems) and killing a small number (severe lung issues).
Other Health Benefits Of Garlic
While the world battles coronavirus, adding garlic to your meal is always a good idea. This is because it has loads of health benefits.
Garlic helps boost your immune system, and combat sickness, including common cold.
Also, it is an antioxidant and this is one of the reasons it can reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol level.
It also lowers the risk of heart disease.