Crude Garlic Extract Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis of Cancer CellsIn Vitro

Abstract

Garlic and its lipid-based extracts have played an important medicinal role in humans for centuries that includes antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering properties. The present study was to investigate the effects of crude garlic extract (CGE) on the proliferation of human breast, prostate, hepatic, and colon cancer cell lines and mouse macrophageal cells, not previously studied. The human cancer cell lines, such as hepatic (Hep-G2), colon (Caco-2), prostate (PC-3), and breast (MCF-7), were propagated at 37°C; air/CO2 (95:5 v/v) using the ATCC-formulated RPMI-1640 Medium and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), while the mouse macrophage cell line (TIB-71) was propagated at 37°C; air/CO2 (95:5 v/v) using the ATCC-formulated DMEM and 10% FBS. All cells were plated at a density of ∼5000 cells/well. After overnight incubation, the cells were treated with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, or 1 μg/mL of CGE an additional 72 h. Inhibition of cell proliferation of 80-90% was observed for Hep-G2, MCF-7, TIB-71, and PC-3 cells, but only 40-55% for the Caco-2 cells when treated with 0.25, 0.5, or 1 μg/mL. In a coculture study of Caco-2 and TIB-71 cells, inhibition of cell proliferation of 90% was observed for Caco-2 cells compared to the 40-55% when cultured separately. CGE also induced cell cycle arrest and had a fourfold increase in caspase activity (apoptosis) in PC-3 cells when treated at a dose of 0.5 or 1 μg/mL. This investigation of CGE clearly highlights the fact that the lipid bioactive compounds in CGE have the potential as promising anticancer agents.

Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Management of Cancer in Uganda: A Review of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Studies

“…Diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin) (4), diallyl sulfide (DAS) (5), diallyl disulfide (DADS) (6), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) (7), E-ajoene (8), Z-ajoene (9), S-allyl-cysteine (SAC) (10), and S-allyl-cysteine sulfoxide (alliin) (11) [60] Extracts exhibited an antiproliferative effect on human cancer cell lines, including liver (HepG2), colon (Caco2), prostate (PC-3), and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells [61]. Extracts induced G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest in EJ bladder cancer cells [62].…”

Allium vegetables for possible future of cancer treatment

“…This compound is an amino acid in garlic that is converted to allicin after cutting its cabbage. Allicin has the capacity to downregulate antiapoptotic proteins (Bagul et al, ) and block tumor angiogenesis and the immune cells movement and functions (Londhe, ). Allicin by activating caspase 3 and promoting the expression of p38 molecule led to hindering cell division and apoptosis of the MGC803 gastric cancer cells (Yuan et al, ).…”

“…This compound is an amino acid in garlic that is converted to allicin after cutting its cabbage. Allicin has the capacity to downregulate antiapoptotic proteins (Bagul et al, 2015) and block tumor angiogenesis and the immune cells movement and functions (Londhe, 2011).…”

“…Chang et al, ), (Sowjanya, Devi, & Madhavi, ; Upadhyay, ), (Lin et al, ), (Y.‐L. Chu et al, ), (Bagul, Kakumanu, & Wilson, )…”

Synergistic Anticancer Potential of Water Garlic Extract and Copper in a Human Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line

“…The antioxidant activity of water garlic extracts (WGEs) may be related to the elevated content in OSCs and selenium compounds [5] but the specific phytocompounds involved in the anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activities are yet unknown [6]. Garlic and its water extracts have shown a clear medicinal role in humans, like antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering and anticancer properties [7]. Many sulfur-containing bioactive compounds were identified in garlic over the years, with a protective effect against several types of cancer [8].…”