garlic
Modification of radiation induced changes in murine hepatic lipid profiles by garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) unsaturated oils.

Gupta NK.

Department of Zoology, College of Basic Sciences, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India.

Adult male Swiss albino mice were administered 74 kBq g-1 body weight of 45Ca in the presence and absence of garlic unsaturated oils, and the changes in total lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids contents of liver were observed at various intervals from 1 to 14 days post-treatment. The results obtained indicate that garlic oils prevented rapid increase in hepatic total lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids and decrease in free fatty acids induced by radiocalcium and the values reached normal values earlier in garlic treated animals than in irradiated animals. Possible mechanism underlying the protective action of garlic oils is reported.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9014518&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Involvement of calcium in the cardiac depressant actions of a garlic dialysate.

Martin N, Bardisa L, Pantoja C, Barra E, Demetrio C, Valenzuela J, Barrios M, Sepulveda MJ.

Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad de Concepcion, Chile.

In order to elucidate a possible role for calcium on the negative cardiotropic effects of a garlic (Allium sativum L., Liliaceae) dialysate in rat atria we studied: (a) the effects of our extract 15 min after preincubation with high and low concentrations of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) on left and right activity of rat atria. The negative inotropism of garlic dialysate increased with calcium 0.75 mM; in contrast, high level of calcium (4.5 mM) induced a significant reduction of this depressant effect. None of these treatments modified the negative chronotropism of garlic; (b) nifedipine (10(-9) to 10(-7) M, verapamil (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) and diltiazem (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) induced a concentration-dependent synergism of the log concentration-effect of garlic dialysate on left atria. Verapamil and diltiazem (10(-7)M), but not nifedipine increased the inhibitory chronotropism of garlic in right atria; (c) negative inotropic and chronotropic effects demonstrated by nifedipine (1 x 10(-10) to 1.1 x 10(-6) M) were antagonized as expected by preincubation with Bay K-8644. Depressant actions of garlic were not modified with this pretreatment. These results suggest that the negative inotropic effect of our garlic dialysate is related to [Ca2+]o availability. It is possible that a restriction of intracellular calcium contributes to this effect. However, the negative chronotropic effect of garlic is scarcely affected by these modifications.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9032623&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Helicobacter pylori--in vitro susceptibility to garlic (Allium sativum) extract.

Sivam GP, Lampe JW, Ulness B, Swanzy SR, Potter JD.

Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.

Gastric cancer is the major cancer in the developing world and one of the top two worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium implicated in the etiology of stomach cancer. The incidence of stomach cancer is lower in individuals and populations with high Allium vegetable intakes. Allium vegetables, particularly garlic, have antibiotic activity. Standard antibiotic regimens against H. pylori are frequently ineffective in high-risk populations. As part of our study of the role of Allium vegetable intake on cancer prevention, we wished to investigate its antimicrobial activity against H. pylori. An aqueous extract of garlic cloves was standardized for its thiosulfinate concentration and tested for its antimicrobial activity on H. pylori grown on chocolate agar plates. Minimum inhibitory concentration was 40 micrograms thiosulfinate per milliliter. Staphylococcus aureus tested under the same conditions was not susceptible to garlic extract up to the maximum thiosulfinate concentration tested (160 micrograms/ml). To our knowledge, this is the first report of H. pylori's susceptibility to garlic extract of known thiosulfinate concentration. It is plausible that the sensitivity of H. pylori to garlic extract at such low concentration may be related to the reported lower risk of stomach cancer in those with a high Allium vegetable intake. Furthermore, it may identify a strategy for a low-cost intervention, with few side effects, in populations at high risk for stomach cancer, particularly where antibiotic resistance and the risk of reinfection are high.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9121937&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Garlic powder and allyl sulfur compounds enhance the ability of dietary selenite to inhibit 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary DNA adducts.

Schaffer EM, Liu JZ, Milner JA.

Department of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.

These studies examined the ability of garlic powder or allyl sulfur compounds to modify selenite protection against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary epithelial cell DNA adducts. In Study 1, female rats (n = 5) were fed diets containing sodium selenite at 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg Se/kg and garlic powder at 0, 20, or 40 g/kg diet. Total DNA adducts correlated inversely with selenite or garlic powder intake. Garlic powder enhanced the selenite inhibition of mammary DNA adducts. In Study 2, selenite (2.0 mg Se/kg diet), garlic powder (20 g/kg diet), water-soluble S-allyl cysteine (SAC; 5.2 mumol/kg diet), and oil-soluble diallyl disulfide (DADS; 5.2 mumol/kg diet) inhibited (p < 0.05) total DNA adducts by 45%, 40%, 80%, and 75%, respectively. Combining selenite with garlic powder, SAC, or DADS further inhibited DNA adducts. Selenite, but not garlic powder, SAC, or DADS, enhanced liver glutathione S-transferase and uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase activities. Selenite, garlic powder, SAC, or DADS did not affect liver cytochrome P-450 1A1 activities. The present studies provide evidence that synergistic protection against the initiation of DMBA carcinogenesis occurs when selenite is supplemented in conjunction with garlic or its allyl sulfur components.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9121944&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Effects of garlic thioallyl derivatives on growth, glutathione concentration, and polyamine formation of human prostate carcinoma cells in culture.

Pinto JT, Qiao C, Xing J, Rivlin RS, Protomastro ML, Weissler ML, Tao Y, Thaler H, Heston WD.

Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. pintoj mskcc.org

This study investigated whether naturally occurring garlic derivatives and synthetic S-cysteinyl compounds that resemble garlic constituents have antiproliferative effects on human prostate carcinoma (LNCaP) cells. Studies also examined whether S-allylmercaptocysteine and S-allylcysteine affect two important molecular targets, namely reduced glutathione and polyamines. Results showed that S-allylmercaptocysteine (50 mg/L) diminished LNCaP cell growth whereas the antiproliferative effect of S-allylcysteine was not as pronounced. Studies using synthetic S-cysteinyl analogues revealed that growth inhibition was most effective with compounds containing a disulfide or an active diallyl moiety. Marginal to no inhibitory effect was observed with monosulfinic analogues. Both S-allylmercaptocysteine and S-allylcysteine caused an increase in LNCaP cell reduced glutathione concentrations. Putrescine and spermine concentrations decreased and spermidine increased 3 d after S-allylmercaptocysteine treatment. At 5 d after S-allylmercaptocysteine treatment, polyamine concentrations were similar to those of saline-treated controls. Diminished cell growth and altered polyamine concentrations suggest that S-allylmercaptocysteine may impede the polyamine synthesizing enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, either by enhancing the formation of reduced glutathione, a known inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, or by reacting directly with ornithine decarboxylase at its nucleophilic thiol moiety. Because S-allylcysteine also increases reduced glutathione formation but does not significantly inhibit growth, the latter mechanism may be more likely for this compound. These data provide further evidence that nonessential nutrients derived from garlic may modulate tumor growth. Further research is required on effects of garlic derivatives in vivo before information from the present studies can be used to assist in the development of effective nutritional strategies for preventing progression of prostate cancer.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9250120&dopt=Abstract garlic