Ground garlic inhibited the cross-linking reaction of myosin and incorporation of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) in salted Alaska pollack surimi catalyzed by transglutaminase (TGase). The component responsible for the inhibition was a thermostable, low molecular weight compound. The component also inhibited microbial transglutaminase (MTGase). The inhibition by garlic was reversibly recovered upon addition of 2-mercaptoethanol. The inhibitory component was therefore hypothesized to contain sulfhydryl groups within its structure. Alliin itself did not inhibit the cross-linking reaction. However, the addition of alliin together with garlic increased the inhibition. This result suggested that compounds derived from alliin was responsible for the inhibition of TGase activity.