Allium sativum

Common Names

in English: cultivated garlic, garlic

African names: ayo ishi, kitunguusumu, tafanuwa

in Tanzania: kitunguu saumu, somu, thumu

in Yoruba: ayo, ayu

in Cambodia: khtum saa

in China: da suan, hsiao suan, suan

in India: acanam, acanapanni, acanapputu, accanam, acunam, acunan, acunapputu, acuram, aghlees, alalhoum, amirtai, araconam, araipavanati, arakacam, arakacappuntu, arishtha, arital, arittam, arittampokki, arittampokkipputu, attankal, awqariyo saqardeen, belluli, bellulli, bhutabhna, bhutagna, cavukkiriya, cavukkiriyacceti, chanam, cocanam, cocanapputu, corutca, cunakam, cunakapputu, cunam, diete, dirghapatraka, eripuntu, faom, fom, gohari lusoon, gopa, grinjana, grnjana, hana, ilacunam, iletitacceti, iletitam, iracanai, iracanam, iracanappuntu, iraconakam, iraconam, iraconopi, iracunam, irecan, irecani, irecapputu, jawari gadde, kalinkam, kantakam, kantam, katukanda, katukantam, kautatam, kayam, kirancam, kirancanam, kulamarccam, kutiraippallan, lacunam, lahasan, lahasun, lahsan, lahsoon, lahsun, lasan, lashuna, lasoon, lassan, lassun, lasun, lasuna, lasunah, lasunas, lehann, lehesun, lehsan, lehsun, maha-ushadha, mahakanda, mahausa, mahaushadha, mahusudha, makorakattam, malacanati, matalam, matamatu, matamatupputu, matukiyakentam, mileccakantakam, mileccakantam, mlecchakanda, mlecha-gandha, naharu, nattotarici, nicciyam, paccainirulli, palantu, poondu, pundu, puntu, purun-var, purunvar, raconakam, raconam, racunam, racunapputu, rahuchhishta, rahutsrishta, rasona, rasonah, rasonaka, rasonam, rasoon, rasun, sangtemlashing, saum, seer, seer lahsan, sir, som, soom, soom-ul-haiya, sum, taum, tejanglasing, tellagadda, tellulli, temekavitayam, thellagaddalu, thellavayalu, tiri, tiripuravanitacceti, tiripuravanitam, tiryaqe, uccatai, ugragandha, ukkirakantam, ulli, ulli-poondu, ulliccuvetam, ullipoondu, ullippuntu, ullipputu, umiyarpuntu, umiyarputu, vacikaram, vacikarapputu, vacu, vallai pundu, vallaipundu, vatari, velathulli, vellai-poondu, vellaipuntu vellaippundu, vellaippuntu, vellaipputu, vellaipundu,  vellaipuntu, vellaivenkayam, vellapundu, vellipayalu, velluli, velluli-talla-gadda, vellulli, vellullitellagadda, velvankayam, velvenkayam, venkavali, venkaveli, vetpuntu, virutalam, vullay poondoo, yavanasta, yavaneshta, yavanesta

in Indonesia: bawang bodas, bawang putih, lasun putih

in Laos: kath’iem

in Lepcha: aoo tsong

in Malaysia: bawang china, bawang puteh, bawang putih

in Nepal: lasun

in Papua New Guinea: galik

in Philippines: ahus, ajos, bawang

in Thailand: hom khaao, hom-tiam, hua thiam, krathiam, krathiam cheen, krathiam khaao, pa se waa, thiam

in Tibet: sgog gcig, sgog skya, sgog-skyam

in Vietnam: dai toan, hom kia, sluon, toi, t[or]i 

Scientific Names (Synonyms)

Allium controversum Schrad. ex Willd.

Allium longicuspis Regel

Allium ophioscorodon Link

Allium pekinense Prokh.

Allium sativum var. controversum (Schrad. ex Willd.) Nyman

Allium sativum subsp. controversum (Schrad. ex Willd.) K.Richt.

Allium sativum subsp. ophioscorodon (Link) Schübl. & G.Martens

Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon (Link) Döll

Allium sativum var. pekinense (Prokh.) F.Maek.

Allium sativum f. pekinense (Prokh.) Makino

Allium sativum var. subrotundum Gren. & Godr.

Allium sativum subsp. subrotundum (Gren. & Godr.) K.Richt.

Allium scorodoprasum var. viviparum Regel

Allium scorodoprasum subsp. viviparum (Regel) K.Richt.

Porrum ophioscorodon (Link) Rchb.

Flora Description:

According to Flora of China:

• Bulb solitary, globose to applanate-globose, usually consisting of several bulbels covered with a common tunic; tunic white to purple, membranous, entire.
• Leaves broadly linear to linear-lanceolate, shorter than scape, to 2.5 cm wide, apex acuminate.
• Scape 25--50 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths for ca. 1/2 its length. Spathe deciduous; beak 7--20 cm. Umbel with many bulblets and few flowers.
•  Pedicels slender, longer than perianth; bracteoles ovate, rather large, membranous, apex acute. Perianth usually pale red; outer segments ovate-lanceolate, ca. 4 × 1.4 mm; inner ones ovate, ca. 3 × 1.4 mm.
• Filaments shorter than perianth segments, connate at base and adnate to perianth segments; outer ones subulate; inner ones broadened at base, 1-toothed on each side, teeth with apex filiform and longer than perianth segments.
• Ovary globose.
• Style not exserted.

According to Flora of Pakistan

• Bulb ovoid with 6-10 bulblets; scales white.
• Scapes c. 1 in tall, curved; spathe long-beaked.
• Leaves linear, flattened. Umbels with bulbils and flowers. Petals white, lanceolate, acuminate.
• Filaments shorter than the petals, inner with 2 cusps.

Pharmacological Activity

Active burning and blistering if bulbils applied to skin; human allergy to garlic dust, occupational asthma. Ingesting garlic leaves can also cause allergic reactions. Antimicrobial, antifungal, aphrodisiac, antibiotic, antibacterial, expectorant, antiinflammatory, mild cathartic, anthelmintic, hypocholesterolemic, diuretic, carminative, tonic, stimulant, used for hypertension, diabetes, cough, bronchitis, lung abscesses, asthma, skin diseases, menstrual disorders, contusion, arthritis, ringworm, dropsy, scurvy, to increase sexual potentiality. Fresh cloves of garlic used externally by friction to treat dermatitis; juice mixed with water and sprinkled in and around the house drives out snakes, scorpions and insects. Crushed flakes made into a paste and applied over scorpion bite. Extract of leaves applied for controlling fruit borer, bacteria and viruses in vegetables. Ceremonial, rituals, festivals, the bulbs, used in religion and magico-religious beliefs, not used during fast or pious and religious days, some people do not eat it all considering it impious. Contact therapy, cloves tied with a sacred thread as a necklace worn to cure typhoid and jaundice. Veterinary medicine, bulb juice an antidote for dog bite; mixture of leaves of Pergularia extensa, Piper nigrum seeds and Allium sativum juice put into eyes for any kind of disease in cattle.

Chemicals

Geraniol, Allicin, Diallyl disulfide, Diallyl sulfide, Dimethyl trisulfide, Dipropyl disulfide, Methyl allyl disulfide, Alliin, Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, Cyanidin 3-(3''-malonylglucoside), Cyanidin 3-(6''-malonylglucoside), Cyanidin 3-(3'',6''-dimalonylglucoside), Se-Methylselenocysteine, Citral, Allitridin, Methyl allyl sulfide, Methyl propyl disulfide, S-Methyl mercapto-L-cysteine, S-Methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide