Garlic benefits the immune system in ways which have not been clear up to now. Although the allicin in garlic remedies is known to be involved it has not been certain how.

A recent study has now started to clarify matters.

The difficulty in understanding allicin has been that it traps damaging free radicals effectively but it does not contain the compounds usually associated with this type of activity. Examples of this are the flavanoids found in green tea, or the anthocyanins found in purple fruit.

The study team found that allicin decomposed to form sulfenic acid, a powerful antioxidant. This combines with free radicals very rapidly to make them harmless.

Onions and leeks contain a chemical similar to allicin but it decomposes to sulfenic acid more slowly than it allicin does in garlic, making it a less potent antioxidant.

More detail:

Health Benefits Of Garlic Traced To Acid Produced In Decomposing Organic Compound

Herbal products:

Power Garlic Capsules – high quality low odour garlic

Herbs to support the immune system