Tag: Allicin metabolism

According to scientific studies, the powerful bioactive compound allicin, found in crushed garlic, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain. This raises the critical question: can allicin cross the blood-brain barrier to exert these effects? Recent research indicates it has the potential to, although direct confirmation in humans is still needed.

Despite being crushed from garlic, allicin is a highly unstable compound with a half-life of less than a minute when exposed to blood, a fact that sheds light on whether allicin enters the bloodstream. This potent but fleeting molecule is quickly metabolized, meaning the therapeutic benefits associated with garlic come from other compounds.