anti-diabetic effects of onion, garlic

Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Wed, 28 Oct 1998 02:46:55 -0800 (PST)

Authors
Sheela CG. Kumud K. Augusti KT.
Title
Anti-diabetic effects of onion and garlic sulfoxide amino acids in rats [letter]. Source
Planta Medica. 61(4):356-7, 1995 Aug. Abstract
On oral administration of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (A. sativum L.) sulfoxide amino acids viz., S-methylcysteine sulfoxide (SMCS) and S-allylcysteine sulfoxide (SACS) to alloxan-diabetic rats for a month, their diabetic condition, being characterized by glucose intolerance, weight loss, depletion of liver glycogen, etc., was ameliorated as comparable to rats treated with glibenclamide and insulin. However, only the last two drugs significantly increased the conversion of labelled acetate to liver cholesterol which indicates a deterrent effect of the allium products against the synthesis of a risk factor.