A Review on the Benefits of Allium sativum on Cancer Prevention

An important and oldest plant, Garlic ( Allium sativum L.), cultivated since time immemorial for its use as food and medicine, has many important constituents which requires attention for its many health benefits. It contains sulfur compounds which are responsible for garlic’s medicinal effects and pungent odour. Pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antitumor, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities have been reported. Out of the medicinal effects of garlic, one of the main factor or importance of garlic is its potentialities in the treatment of cancer or prevention in cancer development. It contains an important organo sulfur compounds which have been attributed in its impact on inhibition of tumour growth, antioxidant properties and drug metabolizing enzymes. Due to garlic’s valuable medicinal properties, special focus has been made on its cancer prevention and its constituents.