Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry A sulfoxide derived from cysteine, primarily responsible for the aroma of freshly chopped garlic.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word alliin.

Examples

  • Chemists say that when garlic is crushed, chopped, or chewed, an enzyme is released that converts one of garlic's key sulfur compounds, called alliin, into allicin.

    Health Fact: Garlic Wards Off Many Health Threats 2008

  • When you cut a clove of raw garlic, a neutral vegetable substance called alliin mixes with a plant enzyme called allinase to produce the potent allicin factor.

    The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity Daniel Reid 1989

  • According to the boffins, garlic has no flavour until the cell walls are broken, and when the cell walls are broken, the enzyme alliinase is released, which reacts with a precursor compound, alliin, to form diallyl thiosulfinate and other thiosulfinates the pongy and tasty side of the garlic.

    Food for Fort: Talking turkey, and other matters Matthew Fort 2010

  • Kyolic is the only manufacturer of aged garlic, which is a much more effective and scientifically-backed form of garlic than formulas which contain just "allicin" or "alliin" for example.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com R.Ph. Suzy Cohen 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.