EFFECT OF GARLIC (ALLIUM-SATIVUM) ON BLOOD-LIPIDS, BLOOD-SUGAR, FIBRINOGEN AND FIBRINOLYTIC-ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Thirty patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were administered g arlic (study group) while another 30 patients received the placebo (co ntrol group). Various risk parameters were determined at 1.5 and 3 mon ths of garlic administration. Garlic, administered in a daily dose of 2 x 2 capsules (each capsule containing ethyl acetate extract from 1 g peeled and crushed raw garlic), reduced significantly total serum cho lesterol and triglycerides, and increased significantly HDL-cholestero l and fibrinolytic activity. There was no effect on the fibrinogen and glucose levels. In vitro effects of the garlic oil on platelet aggreg ation (PAg) and eicosanoid metabolism were examined; it inhibited PAg induced by several platelet agonists, and also platelet thromboxane fo rmation. Two important paraffinic polysulphides - diallyl disulphide ( DADS) and diallyl trisulphide (DATS) - derived from garlic and are usu al constituents of garlic oil, showed antiplatelet activity, and also inhibited platelet thromboxane formation. In this respect DATS was mor e potent than DADS. The nature of inhibition of PAg by DATS was found to be reversible.