Analysis of Compounds in Human Breath after Ingestion of Garlic Using Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

After ingestion of raw garlic, the components allyl methyl sulfide (1), allyl methyl disulfide (2), diallyl sulfide (3), diallyl disulfide (4), diallyl trisulfide (7), dimethyl sulfide (8), and acetone (9) in the breath of a test person were analyzed over a time period of about 30 h by means of proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry. While the concentrations of 2−7 reached maxima shortly after ingestion of garlic and declined to baseline values within the next 2−3 h, concentrations of 1, 8, and 9 increased much more slowly and showed enhanced values even 30 h after garlic consumption. The strong increase of the concentration of acetone might be indicative of enhanced metabolism of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and total lipids in the blood stream. Keywords: Breath gas analysis; garlic components; proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS)

The microaerophilic flagellate Giardia intestinalis: Allium sativum (garlic) is an effective antigiardial

“…Firstly, the flagella could not be seen emerging from the body ; as described below, transmission electron microscopy showed that this was due to the internalization of the flagella in response to the biocide. Internalization of flagella in response to external stresses has been noted previously with trichomonads (Taucher et al, 1996). Secondly, the rigid structure of the ventral disc and its lateral crest and flange appeared to have been compromised.…”

“…For many years allicin was considered the active ingredient of allium treatments, although pharmacokinetic evidence suggests that the observed effect of allicin in vitro is unlikely to be mimicked in vivo, as the half-life of the molecule in biological tissues is minutes (Koch, 1996). Increasingly, investigators are turning to the metabolic breakdown products of the thiosulphinates, which reach high systemic levels, as effector molecules (Lawson & Wang, 1993 ;Taucher et al, 1996). Head-space gas chromatography of exhaled air (Taucher et al, 1996 ;Laasko et al, 1988), and urine, blood and tissue sample analysis (Koch, 1996), examined after ingestion of garlic, show that the levels of these smaller metabolites are more significant than those of allicin.…”

“…Increasingly, investigators are turning to the metabolic breakdown products of the thiosulphinates, which reach high systemic levels, as effector molecules (Lawson & Wang, 1993 ;Taucher et al, 1996). Head-space gas chromatography of exhaled air (Taucher et al, 1996 ;Laasko et al, 1988), and urine, blood and tissue sample analysis (Koch, 1996), examined after ingestion of garlic, show that the levels of these smaller metabolites are more significant than those of allicin. Allyl alcohol is present in exhaled air after ingestion of all garlic products, the highest concentration being after ingestion of freeze-dried garlic tablets (Laasko et al, 1988).…”

Real-time multi-marker measurement of organic compounds in human breath: towards fingerprinting breath

“…Though species identities in Table 1 are tentative, peak assignment was supported by examining the ratio of the naturally occurring isotope peaks. Taucher et al 1996 Acetonitrile, an exogenous compound commonly observed in the breath of smokers, is included in Table 1 based on the median of 49 declared non-smokers. As would be expected, in this study a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between non-smokers (median 2 ppbV, n = 49), exsmokers (2 ppbV, n =10) and smokers (18 ppbV, n = 5).…”

Breath biomarkers in toxicology

“…Some examples are ingestion of volatile foods or substances (Beauchamp et al 2010;Traucher et al 1996), breath diagnosis of life-threatening hydrogen cyanide (HCN) toxicity in victims of fire (Stamyr et al 2015), alcohol and ethylene glycol poisoning (Johanson 2000;Walsh and Macleod 1983;Eder et al 1998), carbon monoxide exposures (Cunnington and Hormbrey 2002), and toluene abuse (Garriott et al 1981).…”