Garlic oil is thevolatile oil derived fromgarlic.[1] It is usually prepared using steam distillation, and can also be produced via distillation usingether. It is used in cooking and as a seasoning, a nutritional supplement, and also as aninsecticide.
Garlic oil is typically prepared usingsteam distillation,[1] where crushed garlic is steamed with the resultant condensation containing the oil.[2] Garlic oil contains volatilesulfur compounds such asdiallyl disulfide, a 60% constituent of the oil.[1][3][4][5] Steam-distilled garlic oil typically has a pungent and disagreeable odor and a brownish-yellow color.[6] Its odor has been attributed to the presence of diallyl disulfide.[1][6] To produce around 1 gram of pure steam-distilled garlic oil, around 500 grams of garlic is required.[2] Undiluted garlic oil has 900 times the strength of fresh garlic, and 200 times the strength of dehydrated garlic.[6]
Ether can also be used to extract garlic oil.[2] A type of garlic oil involves soaking diced or crushed garlic in vegetable oil, but this is not pure garlic oil; rather it is a garlic-infused oil.[2]
Garlic oil is used as adietary supplement or digestive aid commonly sold in capsules, which may be diluted with other ingredients.[1][2] Some commercial preparations are produced with various levels of dilution, such as a preparation that contains 10% garlic oil.[6] There is noclinical research confirming health effects of consuming garlic oil.[1]
Stabilized garlic flavor blend is a proprietary mixture of dehydratedgarlic powder infused with garlic oil, which increases the flavor of the garlic powder.[7]
Garlic oil can be used as aninsecticide, diluted with water and sprayed on plants.[8][9]
Commonadverse effects of consuming garlic, garlic oil, and garlic supplements are breath and body odor, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms ofgastrointestinal disorders.[1] Garlic oil consumption may haveanticoagulant effects in some people, causing bleeding, and may interfere withprescription drugs.[1]
Garlic-flavored oil is produced and used for cooking and seasoning purposes, and is sometimes used as an ingredient inseasoning mixtures.[2][6] This differs from essential garlic oil, and typically involves the use of chopped, macerated or crushed garlic placed in various vegetable oils to flavor the oil.[1]
