New peer-reviewed research has identified specific garlic varieties that demonstrate significant antiviral activity against respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A, challenging long-held assumptions about the health benefits of garlic. The findings, published in the Journal of Functional Foods (2024) and JSFA Reports (2026), show that only a small subset of garlic cultivars exhibit meaningful antiviral effects, suggesting that health benefits are variety-specific rather than universal.
Nick Diamantopoulos, founder of SupaG Health Pty Ltd, will unveil new garlic products at the Gilroy Garlic Festival on July 24-26, 2026, based on these discoveries. The company has developed cultivar-specific formulations supported by the research, which demonstrated that certain garlic extracts can impede viral entry into host cells in laboratory studies. Notably, the same cultivars showed activity against both COVID-19 and influenza, indicating that the antiviral properties are linked to the variety itself rather than growing conditions.
Diamantopoulos, who has spent over 30 years collecting and analyzing more than 300 garlic varieties from around the world, believes these findings represent a paradigm shift for the garlic industry. “These findings fundamentally change the way we should think about garlic,” he said. “Not all garlic is equal for health benefits, just as not all garlic is equal for nutrition and flavor.” The research suggests that biological activity depends on the underlying garlic cultivar, extraction methods, and processing controls, creating opportunities for intellectual property development in the nutraceutical, functional food, and pharmaceutical sectors.
The company is actively pursuing distribution partnerships, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical collaborations, and retail expansion. At the festival, Diamantopoulos will be available to discuss published research and commercial development plans. The product is a premium garlic supplement with a proprietary ingredient focused on specific formulations backed by peer-reviewed science.
However, the company notes that the studies were conducted in laboratory settings and do not constitute clinical evidence in humans. The statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
For more details on the research, see the full studies: Inhibitory effects of SARS-CoV-2 penetration of host cells by garlic oil and juice extract are cultivar specific in the Journal of Functional Foods, and Inhibition of influenza virus infection by garlic oil and juice in cell culture in JSFA Reports.
