Modulation of Allicin-Free Garlic on Gut Microbiome

Abstract

The allicin diallyldisulfid-S-oxide, a major garlic organosulfur compound (OSC) in crushed garlic (Allium sativum L.), possesses antibacterial effects, and influences gut bacteria. In this study, we made allicin-free garlic (AFG) extract and investigated its effects on gut microbiome. C57BL/6N male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups and fed normal diet (ND) and high-fat diet (HFD) supplemented with or without AFG in concentrations of 1% and 5% for 11 weeks. The genomic DNAs of feces were used to identify the gut microbiome by sequencing 16S rRNA genes. The results revealed that the ratio of p-Firmicutes to p-Bacteroidetes increased by aging and HFD was reduced by AFG. In particular, the f-Lachnospiraceae, g-Akkermansia, and g-Lactobacillus decreased by aging and HFD was enhanced by AFG. The g-Dorea increased by aging and HFD decreased by AFG. In addition, the ratio of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase to glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GPT/GOT) in serum was significantly increased in the HFD group and decreased by AFG. In summary, our data demonstrated that dietary intervention with AFG is a potential way to balance the gut microbiome disturbed by a high-fat diet.

Beneficial Effects of Organosulfur Compounds from Allium cepa on Gut Health: A Systematic Review

“…In both assays, diets supplemented with garlic positively impacted GM, as supplementation succeeded in restoring the number of beneficial bacteria to the gut health of mice, such as Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansia, whose counts had been reduced by HFD. The administration of AFG extract was able to reduce the increase in the F/B ratio caused by HFD, relieving the negative impact of this diet on the health of animals and their inflammatory response [62]. The mice that consumed whole garlic in the latter study, showed a greater regulation of the diversity of GM, which led to revert the reduction of Bacteroidetes and beneficial species of the genus Prevotella caused by HFD [69].…”

“…In two studies carry out in mice with dyslipidemia induced by HFD, the administration of Allium products derived from garlic showed an attenuation of the harmful effects caused by this diet on GM [62,69]. In one of these assays, whole garlic was administered [69], while, in the other one, the Allium product tested was an allicin-free garlic extract (AFG) [62]. In both assays, diets supplemented with garlic positively impacted GM, as supplementation succeeded in restoring the number of beneficial bacteria to the gut health of mice, such as Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansia, whose counts had been reduced by HFD.…”

“…In two studies carry out in mice with dyslipidemia induced by HFD, the administration of Allium products derived from garlic showed an attenuation of the harmful effects caused by this diet on GM [62,69]. In one of these assays, whole garlic was administered [69], while, in the other one, the Allium product tested was an allicin-free garlic extract (AFG) [62].…”

“…Two extra articles not identified by the electronic databases were added as the authors were aware of their existence. Finally, as shown in Figure 3, a total of 17 articles [62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78] were found to be eligible for the present systematic review following the full-text eligibility assessment. The characteristics of the selected articles are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…The other two articles conducted in mice studied the effect of garlic extracts in mice with HFD-induced dyslipidemia. Both articles reported optimal results in treated animals, achieving an increase in beneficial bacteria of the GM [62,69]. Six articles of this systematic review dealt with trials conducted in birds.…”