Allicin, among the most potent organosulfur compounds in onion, is produced when the
enzyme allinase reacts with alliin.
When garlic is chopped or crushed, allicin and
allinase come together to form the powerful antibacterial agent, which then develops into the greatest fighter of them all, ajoene.
Onions are rich in organosulfur compounds
like allinase, alliin, diallyl trisulfide and diallyl sulfide.
Ajoene is formed from a compound named allicin and an enzyme
named allinase.
What actually happens is that when you slice into garlic with a knife, two other sulphuric compounds called alliin and
allinase come into contact with each other and react.
In a study of garlic, as little as 60 seconds of microwave heating was enough to inactivate
its allinase, garlic's principle active ingredient against cancer (5)
Ajoene — allicin is formed as a by - product of alliin and
allinase and ajoene is in turn formed as a by - product of allicin.
When garlic is crushed or chewed it forces the allin and
allinase enzyme together and causes a chemical reaction to produce allicin.