Using various kinds of models, we examined the effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on immune functions. In the immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated allergic mouse model, AGE significantly decreased the antigen-specific ear swelling induced by picryl chloride ointment to the ear and intravenous administration of antitrinitrophenyl antibody. In the transplanted carcinoma cell model, AGE significantly inhibited the growth of Sarcoma-180 (allogenic) and LL/2 lung carcinoma (syngenic) cells transplanted into mice. Concomitantly, increases in natural killer (NK) and killer activities of spleen cells were observed in Sarcoma-180--bearing mice administered AGE. In the psychological stress model, AGE significantly prevented the decrease in spleen weight and restored the reduction of anti-SRBC hemolytic plaque-forming cells caused by the electrical stress. These studies strongly suggest that AGE could be a promising candidate as an immune modifier, which maintains the homeostasis of immune functions; further studies are warranted to determine when it is most beneficial.

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We investigated the pharmacologic activities of four garlic preparations, raw garlic juice (RGJ), heated garlic juice (HGJ), dehydrated garlic powder (DGP) and aged garlic extract (AGE). The study used three animal models, i.e., testicular hypogonadism (hypospermatogensis and impotence) induced by warm water treatment, intoxication of acetaldehyde and growth of inoculated tumor cells. RGJ was found to be effective only in recovery of testicular function. The efficacy of HGJ was observed in three models; however, it did not improve impotence. DGP was effective in recovery of spermatogenesis and stimulated acetaldehyde detoxification. Significant beneficial effects of AGE were found in all three models. Although all four garlic preparations significantly enhanced natural killer (NK) and killer cell activities of the spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice, only AGE and HGJ inhibited the growth of inoculated tumor cells. These results suggest that different types of garlic preparations have different pharmacologic properties, and among the four garlic preparations studied, AGE could be the most useful garlic preparation.

Dinophysistoxin‐1, 35‐methylokadaic acid, is a causative agent of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. The biological activities and tumor‐promoting activity of dinophysistoxin‐1 were studied together with those of okadaic acid and 7‐O‐palmitoyl okadaic acid. Dinophysistoxin‐1 is a skin irritant and induces ornithine decarboxylase in mouse skin with the same potency as okadaic acid. 7‐O‐Palmitoyl okadaic acid induced a lower activity than the other compounds. Dinophysistoxin‐1 inhibited the specific [3H]okadaic acid binding to a participate fraction of mouse epidermis. The binding affinities of dinophysistoxin‐1 and okadaic acid to a particulate fraction were almost the same. Dinophysistoxin‐1 showed a tumor‐promoting activity as strong as that of okadaic acid in a two‐stage carcinogenesis experiment on mouse skin. The percentages of tumor‐bearing mice in the groups treated with 100 μg of 7,12‐dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA) followed by 5 μg of dinophysistoxin‐1, twice a week, and with DMBA followed by 5 μg of okadaic acid twice a week were 86.7% and 80.0% in week 30, respectively. The average number of tumors per mouse was 4.6 in the former group and 3.9 in the latter. Dinophysistoxin‐1 and okadaic acid act on cells through different pathways from the 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate‐type tumor promoters.

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