Physiological activities of garlic extracts as affected by habitat and solvents

Physiological activities of Korean-grown garlic (GKG) and Chinese-grown garlic (GCG) were examined. Nitrite-scavenging activity (NSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and electron-donating ability (EDA) of garlic extracted with water or with either 50% or 100% ethanol were measured. NSA was optimized at pH 1.2 and was highest in water and 50% ethanol extracts of both origins. SOD-like activities of water or 50% ethanol extracts from both Korea and China were 48.43-63.89% lower than those of 1% or 0.1% L-ascorbate solutions. SOD-like activities of GKG extracts were higher than those of GCG extracts, and those of water extracts of samples were highest. EDAs of GKG extracts were higher (32.51-43.74%) than those of GCG extracts, while those of both sample extracts were lower than 1% or 0.1% L-ascorbate solutions.