It was shown that aged garlic extract (AGE), garlic powder and the following garlic-derived compounds: S-allylcysteine (SAC), diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS), ameliorate gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. However, it was not established if the above mentioned extracts and compounds of garlic could interfere with the antibiotic action of GM. To address this point, AGE, garlic powder extract (GPE), SAC, DAS and DADS were assessed for their ability to interfere with the in vitro antibiotic activity of GM in Escherichia coli cultures. It was found that the above mentioned extracts and compounds of garlic were unable to decrease the antibiotic capacity of GM and even SAC, DAS and DADS alone inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and enhanced the antibiotic effect of GM. Our data show that SAC, DAS and DADS are antibacterial compounds against E. coli and suggest that AGE, GPE, SAC, DAS and[sol ]or DADS may be administered along with GM-treatment to ameliorate GM-induced nephrotoxicity without interfering with its antibiotic activity.
Copyright 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.