RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/a-2633-5581
Allium ursinum as a Centuries-old Medicinal Plant. Short Review of Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Properties of the Rare Garlic Species

Abstract
Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is a wild plant growing in Middle and Eastern Europe that has been traditionally applied in local cuisine and herbal medicine practices. The leaves of the plant contain numerous bioactive compounds, i.e., flavonols, flavanols, phenolic acids, and thiopolysulfides. The aim of the study is to present the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of this plant. The leaves of Allium ursinum possess strong antioxidant activity, which varies depending on extractant use and plant origin. The plant has limited capacity for ferric ion reduction in a FRAP test, as well. The previous studies showed that the high content of phenolic compounds was prevalently responsible for the high antiradical capacity. On the other hand, the thiopolysulfides present in the plant are responsible for its anti-inflammatory effect, observed as inhibition of TNF-α and interleukins, and as a bactericidal effect against skin pathogenic microflora. Wild garlic has a negative effect on cancer cell line viability, while it enhances the viability of non-cancerogenic tissue cells. All these effects clearly show that wild garlic is an interesting and potent raw material that should be more often applied in todayʼs functional foods, as well as a novel additive for dietary supplements, herbal remedies, or materials with topical anti-bacterial action.
Keywords
Allium ursinum - Allioideae - thiopolysulfides - antioxidant activity - anti-inflammatory effect - antibacterial effectPublikationsverlauf
Eingereicht: 25. Februar 2025
Angenommen: 29. Mai 2025
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
09. Juli 2025
© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
-
References
- 1 Błażewicz-Woźniak M. Vegetative reproduction and yield of bear garlic (Allium ursinum L.) in field cultivation. Acta Agrobot 2024; 77: 190228
- 2 Pawera L, Łuczaj Ł, Pieroni A, Polesny Z. Traditional plant knowledge in the White Carpathians: Ethnobotany of wild food plants and crop wild relatives in the Czech Republic. Hum Ecol 2017; 45: 655-671
- 3 Morschhauser T, Rudolf K, Botta-Dukát Z, Oborny B. Density-dependence in the establishment of juvenile Allium ursinum individuals in a monodominant stand of conspecific adults. Acta Oecologica 2009; 35: 621-629
- 4 Djurdjevic L, Dinic A, Pavlovic P, Mitrovic M, Karadzic B, Tesevic V. Allelopathic potential of Allium ursinum L. Biochem System Ecol 2004; 32: 533-544
- 5 Kovalenko O, Kalista M. Allium ursinum L.(Amaryllidaceae)–a new species for the flora of National Nature Park “Pyriatynskyi” (Poltava oblast, Ukraine). Plant Introduction 2022; 95/96: 53-56
- 6 Amagova Z, Matsadze V, Kavarnakaeva Z, Golubkina N, Antoshkina M, Sękara A, Tallarita A, Caruso G. Joint cultivation of Allium ursinum and Armoracia rusticana under foliar sodium selenate supply. Plants 2022; 11: 2778
- 7 Gordanić S, Radanović D, Vuković S, Kolašinac S, Kilibarda S, Marković T, Moravčević Đ, Kostić AŽ. Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant potential of Allium ursinum L. cultivated on different soil types- a preliminary study. Emir J Food Agric 2023; 34: 904-914
- 8 Gębczyński P, Bernaś E, Słupski J. Usage of Wild-Growing Plants as Foodstuff. In: Hernik J, Walczycka M, Sankowski E, Harris BJ. ed. Cultural Heritage–Possibilities for Land-Centered Societal Development. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland; 2022: 269-283
- 9 Pluta-Kubica A, Najgebauer-Lejko D, Domagała J, Štefániková J, Golian J. The effect of cow breed and wild garlic leaves (Allium ursinum L.) on the sensory quality, volatile compounds, and physical properties of unripened soft rennet-curd cheese. Foods 2022; 11: 3948
- 10 Znamirowska A, Szajnar K, Rożek P, Kalicka D, Kuźniar P, Hanus P, Kotula K, Obirek M, Kluz M. Effect of addition of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) on the quality of kefirs from sheepʼs milk. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment 2018; 16: 209-215
- 11 Krivokapic M, Bradic J, Petkovic A, Popovic M. Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Allium ursinum . Serb J Exp Clin Res 2021; 22: 357-362
- 12 Voća S, Žlabur JŠ, Uher SF, Peša M, Opačić N, Radman S. Neglected potential of wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) – Specialized metabolites content and antioxidant capacity of wild populations in relation to location and plant phenophase. Horticulturae 2022; 8: 24
- 13 Lachowicz S, Kolniak-Ostek J, Oszmiański J, Wiśniewski R. Comparison of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of bear garlic (Allium ursinum L.) in different maturity stages. J Food Process Preserv 2017; 41: e12921
- 14 Djurdjević L, Gajić G, Jarić S, Kostić O, Mitrović M, Pavlović P. Analysis of benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives of some medicinal plants in Serbia. Arch Biol Sci 2013; 65: 603-610
- 15 Vlase L, Parvu M, Parvu EA, Toiu A. Chemical constituents of three Allium species from Romania. Molecules 2013; 18: 114-127
- 16 Parvu M, Toiu A, Vlase L, Parvu EA. Determination of some polyphenolic compounds from Allium species by HPLC-UV-MS. Nat Prod Res 2010; 24: 1318-1324
- 17 Wu H, Dushenkov S, Ho CT, Sang S. Novel acetylated flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Allium ursinum . Food Chem 2009; 115: 592-595
- 18 Lachowicz S, Oszmiański J, Wiśniewski R. Determination of triterpenoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and antioxidant capacity in Allium ursinum L. at different times of harvesting and anatomical parts. Eur Food Res Technol 2018; 244: 1269-1280
- 19 Carotenuto A, De Feo V, Fattorusso E, Lanzotti V, Magno S, Cicala C. The flavonoids of Allium ursinum . Phytochemistry 1996; 41: 531-536
- 20 Ivanova A, Mikhova B, Najdenski H, Tsvetkova I, Kostova I. Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of wild garlic Allium ursinum of Bulgarian origin. Nat Prod Commun 2009; 4: 1934578X0900400
- 21 Abe K, Hori Y, Myoda T. Characterization of key aroma compounds in aged garlic extract. Food Chem 2020; 312: 126081
- 22 Bagiu RV, Vlaicu B, Butnariu M. Chemical composition and in vitro antifungal activity screening of the Allium ursinum L. (Liliaceae). Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13: 1426-1436
- 23 Pârvu M, Vlase L, Roşca-Casian O, Pârvu O. Antifungal properties of Allium ursinum L. ethanol extract. J Med Plants Res 2011; 5: 2041-2046
- 24 Schmitt B, Schulz H, Storsberg J, Keusgen M. Chemical characterization of Allium ursinum L. depending on harvesting time. J Agric Food Chem 2005; 53: 7288-7294
- 25 Block E. The organosulfur chemistry of the genus Allium – Implications for the organic chemistry of sulfur. Angewandte Chemie Int Ed Eng 1992; 31: 1135-1178
- 26 Godevac D, Vujisić L, Mojović M, Ignjatović A, Spasojević I, Vajs V. Evaluation of antioxidant capacity of Allium ursinum L. volatile oil and its effect on membrane fluidity. Food Chem 2008; 107: 1692-1700
- 27 Nikkhahi M, Souri E, Sarkhail P, Baeeri M, Mohammadhosseini N. Evaluation of anti-tyrosinase activity of Allium ursinum extracts and their metal complexes. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment 2018; 17: 219-226
- 28 Pavlović DR, Veljković M, Stojanović NM, Gočmanac-Ignjatović M, Mihailov-Krstev T, Branković S, Sokolović D, Marčetić M, Raduović N, Radenković M. Influence of different wild-garlic (Allium ursinum) extracts on the gastrointestinal system: spasmolytic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. J Pharm Pharmacol 2017; 69: 1208-1218
- 29 Nhut PT, An TNT, Minh LV, Truc TT, Anh NHT. Phytochemical screening of Allium tuberosum Rottler. ex Spreng as food spice. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 2020; 991: 012021
- 30 Kovarovič J, Bystrická J, Urminská D, Harangozo Ľ, Vollmannová A, Trebichalský P, Timoracká M, Carbonell-Barrachina AA. Evaluation and comparison of total polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of wild garlic (Allium ursinum l.) In selected morphological parts. J Microbiol Biotechnol Food Sci 2019; 9: 492-495
- 31 Stanisavljević N, Soković Bajić S, Jovanović Ž, Matić I, Tolinački M, Popović D, Popović N, Terzić-Vidojević A, Golić N, Beškoski V, Samardžić J. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of Allium ursinum and their associated microbiota during simulated in vitro digestion in the presence of food matrix. Front Microbiol 2020; 11: 601616
- 32 Lukinac J, Jukić M. Influence of drying temperature on the organoleptic properties, antioxidant activity and polyphenol content in dried leaves of Allium ursinum L. subsp. ucrainicum . Ukr Food J 2022; 11: 2-26
- 33 Przeor M, Flaczyk E, Beszterda M, Szymandera-Buszka KE, Piechocka J, Kmiecik D, Szczepaniak O, Kobus-Cisowska J, Jarzębski M, Tylewicz U. Air-drying temperature changes the content of the phenolic acids and flavonols in white mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves. Ciência Rural 2019; 49: e20190489
- 34 Škrovánková S, Mlček J, Snopek L, Planetová T. Polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in different types of garlic. Potravinarstvo Slovak J Food Sci 2018; 12: 267-272
- 35 Petkova NT, Ivanov IG, Raeva M, Topuzova MG, Todorova MM, Denev PP. Fructans and antioxidants in leaves of culinary herbs from Asteraceae and Amaryllidaceae families. Food Res 2019; 3: 407-415
- 36 Tomšik A, Pavlić B, Vladić J, Ramcić M, Brindza J, Vidović S. Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.). Ultrason Sonochem 2016; 29: 502-511
- 37 Pejatović T, Samardžić D, Krivokapić S. Antioxidative properities of a traditional tincture and several leaf extracts of Allium ursinum L. (collected in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina). J Mat Environ Sci 2017; 8: 1929-1934
- 38 da Silva Araújo C, Vimercati WC, Macedo LL, Pimenta CJ. Effect of solvent, method, time and temperature of extraction on the recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidants from spent coffee grounds. Int J Food Eng 2022; 18: 325-336
- 39 Olszowy-Tomczyk M. How to express the antioxidant properties of substances properly?. Chem Papers 2021; 75: 6157-6167
- 40 Halder S, Dutta S, Khaled KL. Evaluation of phytochemical content and in vitro antioxidant properties of methanol extract of Allium cepa, Carica papaya and Cucurbita maxima blossoms. Food Chem Adv 2022; 1: 100104
- 41 Jovanova B, Kulevanova S, Kadifkova Panovska T. Determination of the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of selected aromatic herbs. Agr Conspectus Sci 2019; 84: 51-58
- 42 Müller L, Fröhlich K, Böhm V. Comparative antioxidant activities of carotenoids measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ABTS bleaching assay (αTEAC), DPPH assay and peroxyl radical scavenging assay. Food Chem 2011; 129: 139-148
- 43 Pérez-Gálvez A, Viera I, Roca M. Carotenoids and chlorophylls as antioxidants. Antioxidants 2020; 9: 505
- 44 Luta G, Gherghina E, Balan D, Israel-Roming F. Bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of some wild plants with potential culinary uses. Rev Chim 2020; 71: 179-184
- 45 Nie Z, Liu KJ, Zhong CJ, Wang LF, Yang Y, Tian Q, Liu Y. Enhanced radical scavenging activity by antioxidant-functionalized gold nanoparticles: A novel inspiration for development of new artificial antioxidants. Free Radic Biol Med 2007; 43: 1243-1254
- 46 Platzer M, Kiese S, Tybussek T, Herfellner T, Schneider F, Schweiggert-Weisz U, Eisner P. Radical scavenging mechanisms of phenolic compounds: A Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) study. Front Nutr 2022; 9: 882458
- 47 Kasprzak-Drozd K, Oniszczuk T, Kowalska I, Mołodoch J, Combrzyński M, Gancarz M, Dobrzański B, Kondracka A, Oniszczuk A. Effect of the production parameters and in vitro digestion on the content of polyphenolic compounds, phenolic acids, and antiradical properties of innovative snacks enriched with wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) leaves. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23: 14458
- 48 Stanisavljević N, Soković Bajić S, Jovanović Ž, Matić I, Tolinački M, Popović D, Popović N, Terzić-Vidojević A, Golić N, Beškoski V, Samardžić J. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of Allium ursinum and their associated microbiota during simulated in vitro digestion in the presence of food matrix. Front Microbiol 2020; 11: 601616
- 49 Rankovic M, Krivokapic M, Bradic J, Petkovic A, Zivkovic V, Sretenovic J, Jeremic N, Bolevich S, Kartashova M, Jeremic J, Bolevich S, Jakovlievic V, Tomcovic M. New insight into the cardioprotective effects of Allium ursinum L. extract against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Front Physiol 2021; 12: 690696
- 50 Imran M, Nadeem M, Saeed F, Imran A, Khan MR, Khan MA, Ahmed S, Rauf A. Immunomodulatory perspectives of potential biological spices with special reference to cancer and diabetes. Food Agric Immunol 2017; 28: 543-572
- 51 Hodge G, Hodge S, Han P. Allium sativum (garlic) suppresses leukocyte inflammatory cytokine production in vitro: Potential therapeutic use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Cytometry 2002; 48: 209-215
- 52 Keiss H-P, Dirsch VM, Hartung T, Haffner T, Trueman L, Auger J, Kahane R, Vollmar AM. Biochemical and molecular actions of nutrients garlic (Allium sativum L.) modulates cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-activated human blood thereby inhibiting NF-B activity 1. J Nutr 2003; 133: 2171-2175
- 53 Krstin S, Sobeh M, Braun MS, Wink M. Tulbaghia violacea and Allium ursinum extracts exhibit anti-parasitic and antimicrobial activities. Molecules 2018; 23: 313
- 54 Xu XY, Song GQ, Yu YQ, Ma HY, Ma L, Jin YN. Apoptosis and G2/M arrest induced by Allium ursinum (ramson) watery extract in an AGS gastric cancer cell line. Onco Targets Ther 2013; 6: 779-783
- 55 Ye C, Wang J, Wu P, Li X, Chai Y. Prognostic role of cyclin B1 in solid tumors: a meta-analysis. Oncotarget 2016; 26: 2224-2232
- 56 Xiao D, Zeng Y, Hahm ER, Kim YA, Ramalingam S, Singh SV. Diallyl trisulfide selectively causes bax- and bak-mediated apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. Environ Mol Mutagen 2009; 50: 201-212
- 57 Zhao Y, Ye X, Xiong Z, Ihsan A, Ares I, Martinez M, Lopez-Torres B, Martínez-Larrañaga MR, Anadón A, Wang X, Martínez MA. Cancer metabolism: The role of ROS in DNA damage and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Metabolites 2023; 13: 796
- 58 Łuczak MW, Jagodzinski PP. The role of DNA methylation in cancer development. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2006; 44: 143-154
- 59 Roos WP, Kaina B. DNA damage-induced cell death: From specific DNA lesions to the DNA damage response and apoptosis. Cancer Lett 2013; 332: 237-248
- 60 Pop RM, Bocsan IC, Buzoianu AD, Chedea VS, Socaci SA, Pecoraro M, Popolo A. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa L. and Allium ursinum extracts in a cellular model of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Molecules 2020; 25: 5259
- 61 Sobolewska D, Podolak I, Makowska-Wąs J. Allium ursinum: botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview. Phytochem Rev 2015; 14: 81-97
- 62 Štajner D, Popović BM, Čanadanović-Brunet J, Štajner M. Antioxidant and scavenger activities of Allium ursinum . Fitoterapia 2008; 79: 303-305
- 63 Koçkar C, Öztürk M, Bavbek N. Helicobacter pylori eradication with beta carotene, ascorbic acid and allicin. Acta Med 2001; 44: 97-100
- 64 Pérez-Köhler B, García-Moreno F, Brune T, Pascual G, Bellón JM. Preclinical bioassay of a polypropylene mesh for hernia repair pretreated with antibacterial solutions of chlorhexidine and allicin: An in vivo study. PLoS One 2015; 10: e0142768
- 65 Zhai H, Pan J, Pang E, Bai B. Lavage with allicin in combination with vancomycin inhibits biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis in a rabbit model of prosthetic joint infection. PLoS One 2014; 9: e102760
- 66 Sohn DW, Han CH, Jung YS, Kim SI, Kim SW, Cho YH. Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of garlic and synergistic effect between garlic and ciprofloxacin in a chronic bacterial prostatitis rat model. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2009; 34: 215-219
- 67 Kyung KH. Antimicrobial properties of Allium species. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23: 142-147
- 68 Khodavandi A, Alizadeh F, Harmal NS, Sidik SM, Othman F, Sekawi Z, Jahromi MAH, Ng KP, Chong PP. Comparison between efficacy of allicin and fluconazole against Candida albicans in vitro and in a systemic candidiasis mouse model. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2011; 315: 87-93
- 69 Aala F, Yusuf UK, Nulit R, Rezaie S. Inhibitory effect of allicin and garlic extracts on growth of cultured hyphae. Iran J Basic Med Sci 2014; 17: 150-154
- 70 Metwally DM, Al-Olayan EM, El-Khadragy MF, Alkathiri B. Anti-leishmanial activity (in vitro and in vivo) of allicin and allicin cream using Leishmania major (sub-strain Zymowme LON4) and Balb/c Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11: e0161296
- 71 Cosmai L, Campanella D, Summo C, Paradiso VM, Pasqualone A, De Angelis M, Caponio F. Combined effects of a natural Allium spp. extract and modified atmospheres packaging on shelf life extension of olive-based paste. Int J Food Sci Technol 2017; 52: 1164-1175
- 72 Tomovic M, Krivokapic M, Jakovljevic V, Sovrlic MM, Bradic JV, Petkovic AM, Radojevic ID, Brankovic SR, Comic LR, Andjic MM, Kocovic AG, Tomovic MT. Biological activities of different extracts from Allium ursinum leaves. Acta Pol Pharm Drug Res 2020; 77: 121-129
- 73 Jedrszczyk E, Kopec A, Szymanowski M, Skowera B. Proximate chemical composition and concentrations of selected bioactive compounds in the leaves, stems and bulbs of wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.). Fresenius Environ Bull 2019; 28: 4778-4785
- 74 Lenková M, Bystrická J, Tóth T, Hrstková M. Evaluation and comparison of the content of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity of selected species of the genus Allium . J Central Eur Agr 2016; 17: 1119-1133
- 75 Hosono T, Fukao T, Ogihara J, Ito Y, Shibha H, Seki T, Ariga T. Diallyl trisulfide suppresses the proliferation and induces apoptosis of human colon cancer cells through oxidative modification of β-tubulin. J Biol Chem 2005; 280: 41487-41493