Bacteriocidal activity of garlic powder against Bacillus anthracis

The antibacterial activity of garlic powder was examined against Bacillus anthracis using agar plate cultivation and test tube methods. On the agar plate test, 1-5% garlic powder inhibited the growth of B. anthracis and Escherichia coli O157 used as references. A 1% water solution of garlic powder in the test tube method killed B. anthracis at 10(7) cfu/mL within 3 h of treatment at room temperature. A number of intestinal bacteria in a BALB/c mouse decreased after the oral administration of 1 mL of 1%, garlic powder solution once a day for 3 d. These results suggest that the oral administration of garlic powder is effective against pathogenic bacteria invasion into the intestine as an infection.