Development of topical patches releasing allicin using garlic extract.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
In vitro pharmaceutical formulation and membrane diffusion study with no human or animal testing.
PubMed 34713965 · doi:10.1111/jocd.14553
What was done
Researchers developed sustained-release topical patches loaded with allicin from fresh garlic extract, aged garlic extract, or commercial pure allicin using a solvent casting method with ethylene-vinyl acetate backing and Carbopol 971P NF polymer. They evaluated physicochemical properties (weight, thickness, drug content, surface pH, moisture content, folding endurance, swelling) and measured in vitro diffusion across cellulose and Strat-M artificial membranes compared to a reference patch containing mashed garlic.
What was found
No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in cellulose membrane diffusion among patches formulated with commercial allicin, fresh garlic extract, or aged garlic extract. Addition of ethanol increased diffusion: patch E (45 mg Carbopol, 2 mL fresh garlic extract equivalent to 60 mg allicin, and 1 mL ethanol) released 79.94% of allicin over 20 hours across a cellulose membrane, with a flux of 2.62 mg/cm²/h, permeability coefficient of 0.52 cm/h, and an enhancement ratio 2.60 times higher than mashed garlic.
Why it matters
Topical delivery of allicin via standardized extract patches provides a potential method to administer garlic-derived compounds without the aesthetic drawbacks of applying raw mashed garlic.
Limits
This study is entirely in vitro; no biological skin tissue, animal models, or human clinical trials were conducted to assess safety, skin tolerability, or therapeutic efficacy for alopecia areata. Sample sizes, test replicates, and stability testing parameters are not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- context Applying crushed garlic to the foot allows allicin to penetrate the skin barrier and enter systemic circulation such that it can be tasted on the tongue.