Garlic Repellent
Objectives
There are two main scientific objectives in this project, firstly to understand and improve the production of garlic bio-active compounds by sophisticated breeding techniques, and secondly to improve the understanding of the role of garlic as diet and as therapy in promoting and sustaining health and preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis through cellular, molecular and clinical studies as safe and low cost therapy and preventive agent. Further, we aim to identify the mechanisms by which garlic interferes with the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis and the development of cancer in cells, animals and humans. Two technological objectives are also pursued for industrial potential applications: garlic mass propagation of elite clones, to enable cropping and processing of high quality products, and the development of new garlic pharmaceutical formulations with improved properties and quality for the therapy and prevention of chronic diseases.
Background of the Study
More often than not, people buy chemicals to control pests and diseases. But there are ways to control them without spending too much. In fact, some of those can be found right in the farm or backyard. For individuals, studies have shown that coating the body with a jelly based compound including garlic can keep mosquitoes away for some time. Obviously such a method, whilst effective against bites, has fairly major social side effects.
The study was conducted because the garlic contains powerful compounds such as allicin which garlic releases are inimical to mosquitoes. They have therefore evolved to avoid garlic. Another possibility is that the strong smell of garlic overwhelms the mosquito's sense of smell. Allicin does not occur in "ordinary" garlic, it is produced when garlic is finely chopped or crushed. The finer the chopping and the more intensive the crushing, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.
There are two main scientific objectives in this project, firstly to understand and improve the production of garlic bio-active compounds by sophisticated breeding techniques, and secondly to improve the understanding of the role of garlic as diet and as therapy in promoting and sustaining health and preventing cancer and cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis through cellular, molecular and clinical studies as safe and low cost therapy and preventive agent. Further, we aim to identify the mechanisms by which garlic interferes with the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis and the development of cancer in cells, animals and humans. Two technological objectives are also pursued for industrial potential applications: garlic mass propagation of elite clones, to enable cropping and processing of high quality products, and the development of new garlic pharmaceutical formulations with improved properties and quality for the therapy and prevention of chronic diseases.
Background of the Study
More often than not, people buy chemicals to control pests and diseases. But there are ways to control them without spending too much. In fact, some of those can be found right in the farm or backyard. For individuals, studies have shown that coating the body with a jelly based compound including garlic can keep mosquitoes away for some time. Obviously such a method, whilst effective against bites, has fairly major social side effects.
The study was conducted because the garlic contains powerful compounds such as allicin which garlic releases are inimical to mosquitoes. They have therefore evolved to avoid garlic. Another possibility is that the strong smell of garlic overwhelms the mosquito's sense of smell. Allicin does not occur in "ordinary" garlic, it is produced when garlic is finely chopped or crushed. The finer the chopping and the more intensive the crushing, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.