Roxana González

Aqueous garlic extracts prevent oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome.

The organosulfur profile and the effect on oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in fructose-fed rats (FFR) were evaluated in Fuego INTA and Morado INTA garlic cultivars. Wistar rats were fed either normal rat chow (control) or the same diet plus 10% fructose in drinking water. During the last 6 weeks of a 12 week period of the corresponding diet, a subgroup of control and FFR received an aqueous extract of Fuego INTA and Morado INTA. Fuego INTA showed higher levels of total thiosulfinates, allicin, and pungency than Morado INTA. FFR showed an increase of systolic blood pressure, aortic NAD(P)H oxidase activity, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and vascular remodeling that was significantly reduced after both garlic administrations. The beneficial effect was slightly higher when Fuego INTA was administered. Both aqueous garlic extracts prevent oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in rats with metabolic syndrome, suggesting the existence of slight differences among cultivars.

Variability of solids, organosulfur compounds, pungency and health-enhancing traits in garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars belonging to different ecophysiological groups.

Garlic is a vegetable mainly agamically propagated, and it has been dispersed all around the world. Garlic cultivars have been classified in different ecophysiological groups (EG) according to their bulbing requirements. The variability in organosulfur composition (ACSOs), solids content (SC), pungency (PC) and antiplatelet activity (IAA) and the correlation among these traits in garlic clones belonging to three EG was studied. We found variability for ACSOs, SC, PC and IAA between clones belonging to different EG and also among clones belonging to the same EG. Cutivars EG III presented more variability than EG IV for ACSOs, thiosulfinates, allicin and PC, while for SC, EG IV was the most variable. The correlations found suggested that IAA observed was mainly due to organosulfur composition. Finally recommendations about the most suitable cultivars for fresh consumption, pharmaceutical and dehydration industry are made.