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Review
. 2024 Dec 28:18:6413-6426.
doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S503302. eCollection 2024.

Garlic-Derived Quorum Sensing Inhibitors: A Novel Strategy Against Fungal Resistance

Na Li  1   2 , Junli Zhang  3 , Fei Yu  1   2 , Fanghang Ye  1   2 , Wanying Tan  4 , Liyuan Hao  1   2 , Shenghao Li  1   2 , Jiali Deng  1   2 , Xiaoyu Hu  2
Affiliations
Review

Garlic-Derived Quorum Sensing Inhibitors: A Novel Strategy Against Fungal Resistance

Na Li et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. .

Abstract

In recent years, the incidence of fungal infections has been rising annually, especially among immunocompromised populations, posing a significant challenge to public health. Although antifungal medications provide some relief, the escalating problem of resistance sharply curtails their effectiveness, presenting an urgent clinical dilemma that demands immediate attention. Research has shown that fungal resistance is closely related to quorum sensing (QS), and QS inhibitors (QSIs) are considered an effective solution to this issue. Garlic, as a natural QSI, has demonstrated significant effects in inhibiting fungal growth, preventing biofilm formation, enhancing immunity, and combating resistance. This study explores the potential of garlic in mitigating fungal drug resistance and identifies its key role in inhibiting the QS mechanism, these findings offer a new perspective for the treatment of fungal infections, especially in addressing the increasingly severe problem of resistance. However, the clinical application of garlic still faces several challenges, such as ensuring the standardization of active ingredient extraction, as well as issues of safety and stability. Future research should focus on the QS mechanism and promote interdisciplinary collaboration to develop more natural, effective, and safe QSI drugs like garlic, while actively conducting clinical trials to validate their efficacy and safety. Additionally, incorporating advanced technologies such as nanotechnology to enhance drug stability and targeting, provide a more comprehensive strategy for the treatment of fungal infections. Overall, Our study provides scientific evidence supporting the potential of garlic as a novel antifungal treatment and lays the groundwork for the development of future natural QSIs for therapeutic use. It offers new insights, particularly for the treatment of immunocompromised populations and drug-resistant fungal strains.

Keywords: drug resistance; fungal infection; garlic; quorum sensing; quorum sensing inhibitors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
The chemical composition of garlic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The conversion of alliin to allicin in garlic starts with a sulfur-containing amino acid called alliin. When garlic is minced or crushed, alliin interacts with an enzyme present in garlic known as alliinase. This interaction initiates a chemical reaction that transforms alliin into allicin, a compound that not only suppresses fungal growth but also demonstrates antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The production of quorum-sensing molecules and quorum-sensing inhibitors and their roles in different cell types.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Potential Mechanisms of Garlic in the Treatment of Fungal Infections.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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