New research suggests that not all garlic is created equal when it comes to health benefits. Nick Diamantopoulos, founder of SupaG Health Pty Ltd, will unveil new garlic products at the renowned Gilroy Garlic Festival this July, following the publication of peer-reviewed studies demonstrating that certain garlic varieties likely possess significant antiviral properties.
The findings, published in scientific journals, showed that certain garlic varieties demonstrated strong activity in laboratory studies against respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) and Influenza A. The in vitro studies demonstrated that only a small specific subset of garlic, regardless of growing location, exhibited meaningful antiviral activity, and that certain garlic extracts were able to impede viral entry into host cells. Notably, the same cultivars demonstrated activity across both COVID and Influenza A studies, suggesting that the properties may be linked to the variety itself rather than the growing location.
“These findings fundamentally change the way we should think about garlic. For generations, garlic has been viewed as a natural remedy, however our research indicates that not all garlic is equal for health benefits, just as not all garlic is equal for nutrition and flavor,” said Diamantopoulos. “Different varieties possess different biochemical and functional properties, and in identifying these cultivars, we can open the door to entirely new categories of garlic health products.”
This research program draws on more than 30 years of collection, breeding, and analysis, and has involved more than 300 garlic varieties sourced from around the world. Diamantopoulos believes the discoveries may represent one of the most historically significant scientific developments in the garlic industry.
“The future of garlic nutraceuticals will not be commodity-based. It will be health-specific. We are moving from generic garlic products towards identified cultivars with targeted functional properties, proprietary formulations, traceable genetics and evidence-based health positioning,” he said.
SupaG Health will present its product at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the nation's premier summer food event. The supplement features a proprietary ingredient focused on specific formulations supported by peer-reviewed scientific research. The company is actively pursuing distribution partnerships, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical collaborations, retail expansion opportunities, and further product development based on its proprietary research.
Throughout the festival, Diamantopoulos and the SupaGarlic team will be available to discuss the published research, commercial development plans, and opportunities for strategic partnerships, distribution, and clinical research partners.
According to the published research, biological activity likely depends on the underlying garlic cultivar, extraction methods, formulation techniques, and processing controls. This creates opportunities to develop intellectual property around identified cultivars and proprietary formulations for the nutraceutical, functional food, and pharma sectors.
“This research establishes a scientific foundation for a new premium category within the health industry. Gilroy is the ideal place to begin that conversation with the world,” said Diamantopoulos.
The published studies include “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 (2024) and “Inhibition of influenza virus infection by garlic oil and juice in cell culture” in JSFA Reports (2026). The scientific studies were conducted in laboratory settings and do not constitute clinical evidence in humans. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and SupaG Health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
