Organosulfur compounds and possible mechanism of garlic in cancer

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum), a member of the family Liliaceae, contains an abundance of chemical compounds that have been shown to possess beneficial effects to protect against several diseases, including cancer. Evidence supports the protective effects of garlic in stomach, colorectal, breast cancer in humans. The protective effects appear to be related to the presence of organosulfur compounds, predominantly allyl derivatives, which also have been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis in forestomach, esophagus, colon, mammary gland and lung of experimental animals. The exact mechanisms of the cancer-preventive effects are not clear, although several hypotheses have been proposed. Organosulfur compounds modulate the activity of several metabolizing enzymes that activate (cytochrome P450s) or detoxify (glutathione S-transferases) carcinogens and inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in several target tissues. Antiproliferative activity has been described in several tumor cell lines, which is possibly mediated by induction of apoptosis and alterations of the cell cycle. Organosulfur compounds in garlic are thus possible cancer-preventive agents. Clinical trials will be required to define the effective dose that has no toxicity in humans.

Estonian folk traditional experiences on natural anticancer remedies: From past to the future

“…Indeed, Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae) (garlic) is among the oldest medicinal plants used by different people in all over the world. It has been applied for medicinal purpose already for more than 3000 years being also one of the first plants with constituents reported to possess antitumor properties (Miroddi et al, 2011;Omar & Al-Wabel, 2010;Shukla & Kalra, 2007;Tsubura et al, 2011). Also, the bulb of Allium cepa L. (Alliaceae) (onion) has been consumed medicinally for many centuries (Wang et al, 2012) and the use of both garlic and onion in traditional medicinal practice seems to be very safe (Votto et al, 2010).…”

“…Garlic may be classified as a dietary anticarcinogen on the basis of epidemiological and experimental investigations, whereas its beneficial action is not limited to a specific species, particular anatomical locations or specific carcinogens (Khanum et al, 2004;Shukla & Kalra, 2007). Thus, garlic extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast, uterine, prostate, kidney, lung, liver, esophagus, stomach, colon, and skin cancer as well as neuroblastoma, leukemia, and melanoma cells (Galeone et al, 2006;Herman-Antosiewicz et al, 2007;Khanum et al, 2004;Milner, 2006;Miroddi et al, 2011;Omar & Al-Wabel, 2010;Shukla & Kalra, 2007;Tsubura et al, 2011). Onion has shown even better inhibitory activity against tumor cells than garlic (Shrivastava & Ganesh, 2010;Sohail et al, 2011) suppressing the growth of colorectal, liver, laryngeal, ovarian, and blood cancer cells (Galeone et al, 2006;Votto et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2012;Yang et al, 2004).…”

“…The anticarcinogenic effects of allium vegetables are attributed to their organosulfur ingredients (Galeone et al, 2006;Herman-Antosiewicz et al, 2007). Garlic contains a complex mixture of organosulfur compounds that are generated upon its processing; the presence of several other factors, including selenium and flavonoids, may also account for its tumoricidal action (Milner, 2006;Miroddi et al, 2011;Omar & Al-Wabel, 2010;Tsubura et al, 2011). The content of organosulfur compounds is high also in onions; moreover, onions are one of the richest sources of flavonoids in the human diet and the different constituents probably exert an additive action in destroying cancer cells (Galeone et al, 2006;Votto et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2012;Yang et al, 2004).…”

Basic Chemical Composition, Content of Micro- And Macroelements and Antio Xidant Activity of Different Varieties of Garlic’s Leaves Polish Origin

“…esophagus, stomach, liver, colon, bladder, brain, skin, prostate, breast and lung) [12,27,39]. For anticarcenogenic properties are probably responsible sulphur compounds, but also soluble dietary fibre (pectins, inulin), phenolic compounds also can reduce risk of various types of cancer [4,9,12,13,27,37,40]. It is well known that the consumption of garlic during antibiotic therapy enhances its effectiveness.…”

Anti-Cancer Potency and Sustained Release of Phytosomal Diallyl Disulfide Containing Methanolic Allium Sativum Extract Against Breast Cancer

“…There are few reports on the anticancer activity of Diallyl disulfide 13,14,15 but this is the first report where a novel complex is prepared by reacting equimole of natural phospholipid and methanolic extract of Allium sativum which has Diallyl disulfide exhibiting 100% mortality against cancer cells (MCF-7) and sustained drug release profile.…”