Bear's Garlic Interactions Overview

Bear's garlic, also known as wild garlic or Allium ursinum, is a perennial plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. The herb and bulb of bear's garlic are commonly used in culinary applications, prized for their mild garlic flavor. Bear's garlic contains various beneficial compounds, including glucopyranoside, kaempferol, and flavonoids, although levels of alliin, a compound found in garlic, are lower in bear's garlic. It's important to note that many of these compounds are degraded if the plant is dried. Research suggests that bear's garlic exhibits cardioprotective effects, with in vitro studies showing promising results. It moderately inhibits the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which could contribute to its purported cardioprotective and blood pressure-lowering effects. Additionally, bear's garlic leaf extract has been found to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro, mainly through the inhibition of the ADP pathway. Specific non-sulphur constituents, such as 1,2-di-O-alpha-linolenoyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, appear to be the most active antiplatelet constituents, along with some flavonoids.