Aged garlic and cancer: A systematic review

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which increases health-care costs. It has been reported that some dietary components such as aged garlic, one of the garlic preparations with no strong odor and harsh irritating taste, exhibits anticancer effects. This review summarizes the potential beneficial effects of aged garlic on cancer incidences as well as prevention and improvement of factors related to malignancy. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched. All study designs which were focused on cancer incidence, or indices related to malignancy as outcomes in human, animal, and human cells studies, and aged garlic and its ingredients as exposures were reviewed in accordance to the items for systematic reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Initially, 304 articles were identified. Then, 25 articles which met the inclusion criteria were selected. Based on the evaluation, overall quality score of human studies was well. Although there were inconsistent evidence from human studies, results of the animal and laboratory results were mostly consistent. The overall findings may suggest that intakes of aged garlic are inversely associated with cancer. In this regard, the studies have shortcomings. Therefore, more precise investigations will be necessary to decide whether aged garlic consumption is recommendable as a part of cancer prevention or control programs. However, due to anticancer properties of aged garlic, its consumption along with healthy diet may have beneficial effects on cancer.

Allicin and Digestive System Cancers: From Chemical Structure to Its Therapeutic Opportunities

“…There are inconsistent clinical trial data from various garlic forms because of the different bioavailability of raw garlic ingredients and the certain garlic supplement formulations ( 175 ). In 20 months, AGE the odorous, harsh, and irritating garlic components converted into safe and stable sulfur compounds ( 176 ). AGE was demonstrated to reduce the proliferation and prevalence of colorectal cancer ( 177 ).…”

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Chemopreventive Anticancer Activity of Stevioside on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line in vitro

“…Stevia rebaudiana, a plant species native to Paraguay and Brazil that is also used medicinally, produces stevioside in its leaves. [8,9] About 70 of the many Stevia species are endemic to Mexico, and little research has been done on their anticancer properties. Their constituents, including flavonoids, sterols, and sesquiterpenes, which have significant biological activity, are responsible for these effects.…”

Effects of garlic intake on cancer: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and cohort studies

“…Garlic and its bioactive constituents have been shown to have many properties in in vitro or in vivo studies: anticancer, antithrombotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular protective, hepatoprotective, digestive system protective, antidiabetic, antiobesity, neuroprotective, and renal protective [ 6 7 ]. Particularly, anticancer effects of garlic may affect cancer cells by modulation of many pathways including alteration in carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptotic cell death and suppression of oncogenic signal transduction pathways [ 8 9 10 ]. Although the beneficial effects of garlic intake against cancer have been reported in animal studies, benefits in human studies still remain controversial [ 11 ].…”

“…The results from this CUP (2018) showed no conclusion was drawn due to very limited evidence supported a relation between garlic intake and risk of colorectal cancer [ 12 ]. Although there were a few systematic reviews conducted to investigate the effects of garlic intake on cancer, the researchers used a less reliable, and less valid assessment tool instead of the most commonly recommend tool, such as the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs [ 4 8 ]. One meta-analysis of the epidemiological data on the association between garlic intake and cancer prevention did not include information on critical appraisal of study quality [ 13 ].…”