Therapeutic Potential of Allicin in Multi-System Inflammatory Diseases

Abstract

Inflammation is a central pathological process in many chronic diseases and is closely linked to tissue injury and organ dysfunction. Although anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used in clinical practice, their long-term application can be limited by adverse effects and inadequate efficacy, creating a need for safer and more effective therapeutic approaches. Allicin, the principal bioactive organosulfur compound derived from garlic, has attracted increasing research interest because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Preclinical evidence indicates that allicin can attenuate inflammatory responses, inhibit inflammatory cell activation, reduce oxidative stress, and limit tissue damage in various disease models. Protective effects have been reported in models involving the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, and nervous systems. This review summarizes the preclinical evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of allicin across these organ systems, focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms, shared signaling pathways, and organ-associated features. The chemical instability, rapid metabolism, and poor oral bioavailability of allicin remain important barriers to clinical translation, while high-quality clinical evidence from studies of purified allicin in humans remains limited. These challenges, together with potential strategies for overcoming them, are also discussed.