Background

• Onion (Allium cepa L.) is widely used around the world as a food product and has also been used for medicinal applications.
• Most of the available research has focused on scar prevention, but the results are mixed in this area. Onion has been used in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and alopecia areata (hair loss).
• As onion is a commonly consumed food, it is considered likely safe in smaller amounts, although there are reports of skin rash and gastrointestinal problems in sensitive individuals.

References

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• Baraboi VA, Shestakova EN. [Selenium: the biological role and antioxidant activity]. Ukr.Biokhim.Zh. 2004;76(1):23-32.
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• Chung VQ, Kelley L, Marra D, et al. Onion extract gel versus petrolatum emollient on new surgical scars: prospective double-blinded study. Dermatol Surg 2006;32(2):193-197.
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• Galeone C, Tavani A, Pelucchi C, et al. Allium vegetable intake and risk of acute myocardial infarction in Italy. Eur J Nutr 2009; 48(2):120-3.
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• Gonzalez CA, Pera G, Agudo A, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of stomach and oesophagus adenocarcinoma in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-EURGAST). Int J Cancer 5-15-2006;118(10):2559-2566.
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• Heber, D. Vegetables, fruits and phytoestrogens in the prevention of diseases. J Postgrad.Med 2004;50(2):145-149.
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• Ho WS, Ying SY, Chan PC, et al. Use of onion extract, heparin, allantoin gel in prevention of scarring in chinese patients having laser removal of tattoos: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Dermatol Surg 2006;32(7):891-896.
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• Hubbard GP, Wolffram S, de Vos R, et al. Ingestion of onion soup high in quercetin inhibits platelet aggregation and essential components of the collagen-stimulated platelet activation pathway in man: a pilot study. Br J Nutr 2006;96(3):482-488.
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• Lanzotti V. The analysis of onion and garlic. J Chromatogr A 4-21-2006;1112(1-2):3-22.
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• Rose P, Whiteman M, Moore PK, et al. Bioactive S-alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxide metabolites in the genus Allium: the chemistry of potential therapeutic agents. Nat Prod Rep. 2005;22(3):351-368.
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• Schulz M, Lahmann PH, Boeing H, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol.Biomarkers Prev. 2005;14(11 Pt 1):2531-2535.
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• Sengupta A, Ghosh S, Bhattacharjee S. Allium vegetables in cancer prevention: an overview. Asian Pac.J Cancer Prev. 2004;5(3):237-245.
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• Srinivasan K. Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus: spices as beneficial antidiabetic food adjuncts. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2005;56(6):399-414.
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• Wetli HA, Brenneisen R, Tschudi I, et al. A gamma-glutamyl peptide isolated from onion (Allium cepa L.) by bioassay-guided fractionation inhibits resorption activity of osteoclasts. J Agric Food Chem 5-4-2005;53(9):3408-3414.
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• Zurada JM, Kriegel D, Davis IC. Topical treatments for hypertrophic scars. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55(6):1024-1031.
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