Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026

A Sensitive Visual Method for the Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Producing Bacteria
Published on: June 27, 2022
Boiling enriches the linear polysulfides and the hydrogen sulfide-releasing activity of garlic
Restituto Tocmo1, Yuchen Wu2, Dong Liang1
1Food Science and Technology Programme, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 117543 Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract:
Garlic is rich in polysulfides, and some of them can be H2S donors. This study was conducted to explore the effect of cooking on garlic's organopolysulfides and H2S-releasing activity. Garlic bulbs were crushed and boiled for a period ranging from 3 to 30min and the solvent extracts were analyzed by GC-MS/FID and HPLC. A cell-based assay was used to measure the H2S-releasing activity of the extracts. Results showed that the amounts of allyl polysulfides increased in crushed garlic boiled for 6-10min; however, prolonging the thermal treatment to 20 or 30min decreased their concentrations. Data of the H2S-releasing activity, expressed as diallyl trisulfide equivalents (DATS-E), parallel this trend, being significantly higher at 6 and 10min boiling. Our results showed enhancement of H2S-releasing activity upon moderate boiling, suggesting that shorter cooking time may maximize its health benefits as a dietary source of natural H2S donors.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
The Scientific Method
Generally, predictions are tested using carefully-designed experiments. Based on the outcome of these...
Sulfur Assimilation
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene
Precipitation and Co-precipitation

