General Information
NameGarlic
Scientific NameAllium sativum
DescriptionGarlic (Allium sativum) is a species of bulbous flowering plant native to central Asia, widely used in the Mediterranean region, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The plant is a perennial flowering plant growing from a bulb, with a tall, erect flowering stem that grows up to 1 m (3 ft). The bulb is odoriferous and contains 10 to 20 cloves that are asymmetric in shape. Garlic is widely used for its pungent flavor as a seasoning or condiment, and has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens with cooking. The distinctive aroma is mainly due to organosulfur compounds including allicin and ajoene. Garlic has a moderate inverse association with some cancers of the upper digestive tract, and may reduce platelet aggregation. The most notable chemical in garlic is allicin (PMID: 32213941). Garlic is mostly eaten in Mediterranean countries, and is used in various culinary dishes, including garlic bread, garlic toast, and bruschetta. The color of garlic is typically white or off-white, with a pungent taste and odor. Garlic has medicinal uses, including reducing the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease (PMID: 12570662). Garlic is often stored in oil to produce flavored oil, and can be consumed raw or cooked.
Primary IDFOOD00008
Picture8
Classification
GroupHerbs and Spices
Sub-GroupHerbs
Taxonomy
SuperkingdomEukaryota
KingdomViridiplantae
PhylumStreptophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAmaryllidaceae
GenusAllium
Speciessativum
ITIS ID42652
Wikipedia IDGarlic
Composition
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539 unique sources. Numbers in the composition tables above point here.