garlic plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cultivated garlic
• garden garlic
• Garlic

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Allium scorodoprasum subsp. viviparum
• Allium sativum subsp. subrotundum
• Allium sativum subsp. asiae-mediae
• Allium sativum f. vulgare
• Allium sativum f. asiae-mediae
• Allium sativum var. subrotundum
• Allium sativum var. controversum
• Allium sativum f. sagittatum
• Allium sativum subsp. controversum
• Allium scorodoprasum var. viviparum
• Allium sativum var. pekinense
• Allium sativum f. pekinense
• Allium longicuspis
• Allium scorodoprasum var. multibulbillosum
• Allium sativum subsp. ophioscorodon
• Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon
• Allium pekinense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Allium sativum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asparagales and the family Amaryllidaceae. It is further categorized into the genus Allium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Allium sativum, exhibits a widespread presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also commonly found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it is established within the borders of Austria and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Furthermore, the plant maintains a significant presence within Germany, completing its regional range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Allium sativum is characterized by its adaptation to specific environmental niches, thriving within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. Within these altitudinal gradients, the plant demonstrates a preference for particular microclimates, specifically locating itself in habitats such as gullies that remain shaded during the day. This preference for shaded gully environments suggests a requirement for moisture retention and protection from intense direct solar radiation, which influences its growth patterns and survival within its natural distribution.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

Gullies shaded during the day.

Life history

The life history of Allium sativum is characterized by a complex developmental strategy that can be categorized as a perennial, though it is frequently cultivated in an annual cycle for commercial purposes. Morphologically, the plant is classified as a geophyte, as it relies on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, it functions as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are located underground, protected from surface fluctuations and herbivory. This life cycle allows the plant to persist through dormancy, utilizing its bulb to store nutrients and energy for rapid regrowth when optimal growing conditions return.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Allium sativum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation, growing upright from the soil. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a maximum height of 1 m, with a minimum height of 0.25 m and a mean plant height of approximately 0.4875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.4875 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Allium sativum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. Its vegetative structure features linear leaf forms, with a maximum leaf width reaching approximately 1.2 cm, facilitating efficient light interception and gas exchange. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate to support its growth and the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds essential to its metabolic functions.

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf width max:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Allium sativum is characterized by a complex flowering process involving a biotic pollination syndrome. The plant produces flowers organized in a cyme inflorescence, which feature a distinct red coloration. These small flowers have a maximum length of approximately 0.3 cm. The pollination process is primarily driven by insects, specifically bees, which facilitate the reproductive cycle. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, though the specific timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions.

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Inflorescence :

cyme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Allium sativum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed.

Leaf

1. International journal of mycobacteriology
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Heliyon
4. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Comptes rendus des seances de la Societe de biologie et de ses filiales
2. Heliyon

Seed

1. Metabolism open
2. Chemosphere

Chemicals

Allium sativum has 330 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Allicin, DIALLYL DISULFIDE, Alliin, Ajoene, DIALLYL SULFIDE.

Allicin

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
4. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
5. Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny

DIALLYL DISULFIDE

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Biochimica et biophysica acta
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. International journal of cancer
5. Biomedicines

Alliin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Toxicology reports
3. Planta medica
4. Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny
5. Protein and peptide letters

Ajoene

1. Biochemical pharmacology
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of cellular physiology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

DIALLYL SULFIDE

1. Carcinogenesis
2. Cancer letters
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Planta medica
5. International journal of cancer

Diallyl trisulfide

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. International journal of cancer
3. Biomedicines
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
5. Cancer research

Garlic oil

1. Atherosclerosis
2. Cancer biochemistry biophysics
3. Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine
4. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
5. Applied and environmental microbiology

Flavonoids

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Nutrients
3. The Journal of nutrition
4. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
5. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

S-Allyl cysteine

1. Free radical biology & medicine
2. Nutrition and cancer
3. Lipids
4. Current cancer drug targets
5. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

S-Allylcysteine

1. Controlled clinical trials
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
3. The Journal of nutrition
4. Planta medica
5. Current cancer drug targets

Activities

Allium sativum has 57 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Current drug discovery technologies
3. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
4. Neuromolecular medicine
5. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Antibacterial

1. Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny
2. Current drug discovery technologies
3. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
4. Zhonghua Minguo wei sheng wu ji mian yi xue za zhi = Chinese journal of microbiology and immunology
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
4. Scientific reports
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antifungal

1. Bioinformation
2. Current drug discovery technologies
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
4. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
5. Nutrients

Anticancer

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of cellular biochemistry
3. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. The Journal of nutrition
5. Nutrients

Antiviral

1. Current drug discovery technologies
2. Biomedicines
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences
5. Nutrients

Anticarcinogenic

1. Cancer letters
2. The Journal of nutrition
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Nutrients
5. Genome

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of cellular biochemistry
2. Nutrients
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Biology
5. Current diabetes reviews

Hypolipidemic

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
3. The Journal of nutrition
4. Current cancer drug targets
5. Life sciences

Antiproliferative

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Drug metabolism and drug interactions
3. Nutrition and cancer
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. The Journal of nutrition

Medicinal Uses

Allium sativum has 398 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, atherosclerosis, hypertension, blood pressure, platelet aggregation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations