Antimicrobial properties of allium species

The antimicrobial activity of Allium species has long been recognized, with allicin, other thiosulfinates, and their transformation products having antimicrobial activity. Alliums are inhibitory against all tested microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Alliums inhibit multi-drug-resistant microorganisms and often work synergistically with common antimicrobials. Allium-derived antimicrobial compounds inhibit microorganisms by reacting with the sulfhydryl (SH) groups of cellular proteins. It used to be thought that allicin reacts only with cysteine and not with non-SH amino acids, but evidence has accumulated that allicin and other thiosulfinates also react with non-SH amino acids.

► Antimicrobial principles of fresh alliums are thiosulfinates represented by allicin.
► Several different antimicrobial compounds are also formed in heated alliums.
► Alliums inhibit all microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.
► Allium antimicrobials are known to react with SH groups of cellular proteins.
► Evidences that thiosulfinates react with non-SH amino acids are accumulating.