Garlic has been used as an herbal remedy by a wide variety of cultures throughout human history; in ancient China it was thought to treat depression, while in ancient Egypt it was believed to boost physical strength. Today, garlic is used for many conditions related to the heart and circulatory system—some of these uses are supported by science. A study published in Pertanika Journals explores another side of garlic—its antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria that can cause infectious diseases. The study took urine samples from 166 people with urinary tract infections. Researchers isolated uropathogens (bacteria in the urinary tract that can cause disease) from the samples that were highly resistant to five or more antibiotic treatments. The highly-resistant bacteria were then treated with a garlic extract made from crushed fresh garlic and water. Here's what the researchers found:

• The garlic extract inhibited 82% of the drug-resistant bacteria.

This result adds to other in vitro (cell or "test tube") studies that have researched garlic’s antibacterial properties. More research is needed to determine whether garlic would have a similar antibacterial effect against drug-resistant bacterial infections in humans.

Source: Pertanika Journals