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Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study
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Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis:
Aligarh, Dec 26: Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of
Aligarh Muslim University have claimed that garlic can play "a major role"
in combating tuberculosis, especially the drug resistant version of the
disease.
"Garlic acts as an effective herbal therapeutic. It is a strong anti-oxidant
and anti-inflammatory agent having beneficial effects on the immune
system," said Dr. Najmul Islam, the head of a research project on garlic.
Islam said allicin from garlic is a valuable natural anti-oxidant that helps
combat tuberculous. "It serves as a safe and economical alternative to
antibiotics." The findings of the researchers have been published in the
latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal of the Federation of
European Biochemical Societies (FEBS).
In the past few years, researchers of J N Medical College, Holland's
University of Utzech and South Korea's Chungnam National University
have been independently conducting a study on immune responses in
human tuberculosis, a major health hazard across the world today.
It was only in the late 20th century that western scientists accepted the
benefits of garlic in controlling blood pressure in the human body.
However, the research in India, Holland and South Korea has for the first
time scientifically established garlic's curative role in preventing TB and
treating the disease.
The promise held by the "new garlic technology" has excited western
scientists to the extent that they have been quoted as saying that it "may
have an enormous impact upon health challenges faced by the world
today, including antibiotic-resistant influenza epidemic, biological threat,
weight control, chronic diseases and even have an impact on strategic
military men in the field".
Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study
Kerala News India News Business News World News Sports News Bollywood News Health News
Health News
Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis:
Aligarh, Dec 26: Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of
Aligarh Muslim University have claimed that garlic can play "a major role"
in combating tuberculosis, especially the drug resistant version of the
disease.
"Garlic acts as an effective herbal therapeutic. It is a strong anti-oxidant
and anti-inflammatory agent having beneficial effects on the immune
system," said Dr. Najmul Islam, the head of a research project on garlic.
Islam said allicin from garlic is a valuable natural anti-oxidant that helps
combat tuberculous. "It serves as a safe and economical alternative to
antibiotics." The findings of the researchers have been published in the
latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal of the Federation of
European Biochemical Societies (FEBS).
In the past few years, researchers of J N Medical College, Holland's
University of Utzech and South Korea's Chungnam National University
have been independently conducting a study on immune responses in
human tuberculosis, a major health hazard across the world today.
It was only in the late 20th century that western scientists accepted the
benefits of garlic in controlling blood pressure in the human body.
However, the research in India, Holland and South Korea has for the first
time scientifically established garlic's curative role in preventing TB and
treating the disease.
The promise held by the "new garlic technology" has excited western
scientists to the extent that they have been quoted as saying that it "may
have an enormous impact upon health challenges faced by the world
today, including antibiotic-resistant influenza epidemic, biological threat,
weight control, chronic diseases and even have an impact on strategic
military men in the field".
Referring to the findings, Bill Sardi, president of Knowledge of Health
Incorporated in the US, said "this achievement is long awaited and may
rival the discoveries made by Pasteur and Flemming". Sardi, addressing
an international conference in New Jercy recently, said "a fresh clove of
garlic macerated in a hand press will yield about 5250 micogrammes of
allicin. "But allicin is a transient molecule that cannot be released in garlic
powder, only from fresh crushed cloves. Two components of garlic must
mix together when garlic powder enters the stomach. An enzyme called
allinase must mix with alliin in order to form allicin. But stomach acid
quickly destroys allinase and little or no allicin is produced." Islam, who has
been flooded with offers for collaborative work in recent weeks, told PTI a
very significant aspect of the findings is that garlic capsules, which till now
were being widely promoted by drug manufacturers, are not really effective
for the simple reason that digestive acids and enzymes in the stomach
prevent the formation of allicin.
In sharp contrast, if a clove of garlic is simply chewed and kept under the
tongue for a couple of minutes, the anti- oxidant role of allicin starts
manifesting itself within minutes, he said. Islam said the significance of
Incorporated in the US, said "this achievement is long awaited and may
rival the discoveries made by Pasteur and Flemming". Sardi, addressing
an international conference in New Jercy recently, said "a fresh clove of
garlic macerated in a hand press will yield about 5250 micogrammes of
allicin. "But allicin is a transient molecule that cannot be released in garlic
powder, only from fresh crushed cloves. Two components of garlic must
mix together when garlic powder enters the stomach. An enzyme called
allinase must mix with alliin in order to form allicin. But stomach acid
quickly destroys allinase and little or no allicin is produced." Islam, who has
been flooded with offers for collaborative work in recent weeks, told PTI a
very significant aspect of the findings is that garlic capsules, which till now
were being widely promoted by drug manufacturers, are not really effective
for the simple reason that digestive acids and enzymes in the stomach
prevent the formation of allicin.
In sharp contrast, if a clove of garlic is simply chewed and kept under the
tongue for a couple of minutes, the anti- oxidant role of allicin starts
manifesting itself within minutes, he said. Islam said the significance of
this natural oxidant is that it does not require any sophisticated storage
and delivery systems. Thus, the possibility of losing its potency in any
storage conditions and time in comparison to known medicines for TB
is nearly nil. It is easily available globally and has extremely low cost and
is thus within reach of all persons in developing countries.
Apart from Islam, the study was conducted by Nazrul Hasan and Nabiha
Yusuf (University of Birmingham in the US) and Zahra Toossi (Case
Western Reserve University at Cleveland in the US). --- PTI
Article Title: Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study
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Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study .:. NewKerala.Com, India News Channel
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=71012 (1 of 3)12/29/2006 2:34:31 PM
Apart from Islam, the study was conducted by Nazrul Hasan and Nabiha
Yusuf (University of Birmingham in the US) and Zahra Toossi (Case
Western Reserve University at Cleveland in the US). --- PTI
Article Title: Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study
Post your comment
Disclaimer: Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or
redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=71012 (2 of 3)12/29/2006 2:34:31 PM
Garlic can play 'a major role' in combating tuberculosis: study .:. NewKerala.Com, India News Channel
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=71012 (1 of 3)12/29/2006 2:34:31 PM