Garlic, from medicinal herb to possible plant bioprotectant: A review

During the last century, advances in recognizing plant-derived chemicals have led to potential biological substances of significant implications in medicine and agriculture. Identification of garlic-derived allicin has since proved the potential antimicrobial role of garlic against a myriad of microbes. Similarly, during the past few decades, attention is given to the allelopathic roles of garlic and understand the mechanism underlying the bioactivity of garlic-derived compounds in the fields of crop production and protection. In this review, we try to assess the potential role of garlic as medicinal and allelopathic crop and compile the studies that concluded the biological functions of garlic in various fields of researches, in particular, the roles in agriculture or plant development. Attention is drawn to clarify the role of garlic-based compounds as antimicrobial, allelopathic and, general human health. Based on the literatures, will discuss about the futuristic possibility of garlic extracts as plant bioprotectant to increase the production and ensure crop safety against phytopathogens. The review thereby encompasses these issues: 1. The biostimulants, and their role in agriculture. 2. The medicinal importance of garlic. 3. The allelopathic influence of garlic. 4. Chemical composition of garlic, and 5. The hypothesized use of garlic extracts as next generation biostimulant. This article is therefore aimed to provide significance of biostimulants and offer future research proposals in the area of plant biochemicals as biostimulators to improve crop and sustain agriculture production.