garlic
Direct relaxant effects of garlic juice on smooth and cardiac muscles.

Aqel MB, Gharaibah MN, Salhab AS.

College of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman.

The effects of garlic juice on smooth and cardiac muscles of rabbit and guinea pig were tested in vitro using isolated segments of aorta, trachea and intestines and isolated rabbit hearts. Garlic juice inhibited the contractions of rabbit and guinea pig aortic rings induced by norepinephrine in Ca(2+)-free and Ca(2+)-containing Krebs-Henseleit solutions. Also, garlic juice inhibited the contractions of rabbit and guinea pig tracheal smooth muscles induced by acetylcholine and histamine, respectively, in both Ca(2+)-free and Ca(2+)-containing Krebs-Henseleit solutions. Furthermore, garlic juice inhibited the spontaneous movements of rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum and inhibited the force of contraction of isolated rabbit hearts in a concentration-dependent manner. All inhibitions were reversible. These data suggest that the hypotensive action of garlic juice may be due, at least in part, to a direct relaxant effect on smooth muscles.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1943161&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Papilloma and carcinoma production in DMBA-initiated, onion oil-promoted mouse skin.

Belman S, Sellakumar A, Bosland MC, Savarese K, Estensen RD.

Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.

Groups of 20 females Ha/ICR mice were initiated with 25 micrograms 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and promoted one week later with topical treatments three times per week of 5 micrograms phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and/or onion oil or garlic oil. Promotion was continued for 49 weeks in most experiments. Promotion was continued for 60 weeks in the experiment that evaluated the effect of time intervals between PMA and garlic oil. All experiments were conducted with 0.2 ml acetone solutions of agents. Onion oil, but not garlic oil, was a weak promoter in mouse skin. A 1-mg dose produced five papillomas in three mice and one carcinoma in 330 days (18 survivors). The 10-mg dose was more effective; it produced cumulative yields of 56 papillomas in 14 mice and 7 carcinomas in 4 mice in 345 days (14 survivors). Onion oil is neither an initiator nor a whole carcinogen. The effects of intervals between PMA and a 1-mg dose of onion or garlic oil were determined. These intervals were -2 hrs, -1 hr, -0.5 hr, +0.5 hr, +1 hr, and +2 hrs with respect to time of PMA application. Maximal inhibition of papillomas by onion oil was observed at the +0.5-hr interval and was similar to that previously reported. Garlic oil is not a promoter. It inhibited papillomas at the +0.5-hr, +1.0-hr, and +2.0-hr intervals but did not appear to affect carcinoma production.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2120683&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Inhibition of DMBA-induced mouse skin tumorigenesis by garlic oil and inhibition of two tumor-promotion stages by garlic and onion oils.

Perchellet JP, Perchellet EM, Belman S.

Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.

A single 2-mg dose of garlic oil applied 30 minutes before a single carcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene (DMBA) inhibited papilloma production in Sencar mice. The three groups were controls (Group 1), garlic oil applied 30 minutes before DMBA (Group 2), and garlic oil applied 30 minutes after DMBA (Group 3). The percents of mice with papillomas at 20 weeks were 94, 72, and 79, respectively. The decreases in Groups 2 and 3 were significant. The number of papillomas per mouse was 4.2 +/- 0.5 (Group 1), 2.3 +/- 0.8 (Group 2), and 3.4 +/- 0.6 (Group 3). The decrease in Group 2 was significant. A single 5-mg dose of garlic oil maximally inhibited DMBA-induced epidermal DNA synthesis by 86% when applied two hours before the carcinogen. Two-stage promotion in DMBA-initiated Sencar mice was achieved by twice-weekly applications of 8.5 nmol of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for 2 weeks followed by twice-weekly applications of 8.5 nmol of mezerein for 18 weeks. The oils were applied 30 minutes after each promotion by TPA or mezerein. Single doses of 1 mg onion or garlic oil inhibited the first and second stages of promotion. The groups used were control (Group 1), garlic oil applied after stage 1 (Group 2), onion oil applied after stage 1 (Group 3), propenyl sulfide applied after stage 1 (Group 4), garlic oil applied after stage 2 (Group 5), onion oil applied after stage 2 (Group 6), and propenyl sulfide applied after stage 2 (Group 7). The percent of mice with papillomas was significantly decreased by all agents in Groups 2-7. The data are 81, 83, 91, 68, 96, and 86, respectively. The number of papillomas per mouse was significantly reduced by onion and garlic oils but not by propenyl sulfide. The data are 9.4 +/- 0.8, 6.3 +/- 0.7, 7.4 +/- 0.5, 9.2 +/- 1.2, 3.7 +/- 0.9, 6.2 +/- 0.6, and 9.1 +/- 1.4 for Groups 1-7, respectively. Onion and garlic oils inhibited the TPA-stimulated DNA synthesis when given as single doses of 5 mg one hour before TPA. The inhibition by garlic oil was most effective when given one hour before TPA but was evident when given from two hours before to two hours after TPA. These results, and those of others (AS Sadhana, Cancer Lett, 40, 193-197, 1988), who obtained inhibition of initiation, indicate that onion and garlic oils inhibit all stages of mouse skin tumorigenesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2128117&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Inhibition of experimental carcinogenesis by painting with garlic extract.

Meng CL, Shyu KW.

Dental Department, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

The inhibitory effect of topical garlic extract on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in Syrian hamsters was studied to define the local anticarcinogenicity of garlic. Two other chemicals, benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and 5-nitroso-2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (NTP), were also testing materials. All chemicals were applied topically to the cheek pouches of hamsters. The tumorigenesis and architecture of blood vessels on pouch mucosa were examined periodically. The amount of DNA synthesis and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity of the pouch mucosa was detected when the animals were killed. The anticarcinogenicity of garlic and other chemicals was determined by comparing the data obtained from all the examinations with each other and with those shown in the control animals. The apparent local inhibitory effect of garlic on DMBA-induced carcinogenesis was demonstrated, which was even stronger than those of BP and NTP. It suggests that garlic could be developed as a potential chemopreventive agent for oral cancer. This study also disclosed that the examination parameters used were reliable and reproducible. Therefore, they might be utilized for screening the anticarcinogenicity of materials or for early diagnosis of carcinogenesis. The animal model could also be adopted appropriately in evaluating the inhibitory effect of other materials on experimental carcinogenesis because of its comparability.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2128118&dopt=Abstract garlic



garlic
Garlic-in-oil associated botulism: episode leads to product modification.

Morse DL, Pickard LK, Guzewich JJ, Devine BD, Shayegani M.

Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health and State University, Albany.

In February 1989, three cases of botulism occurred in persons who consumed garlic bread made from a garlic-in-oil product. Testing of leftover garlic-in-oil showed it to have a pH of 5.7 and to contain high concentrations of Clostridium botulinum organisms and toxin. This was the second episode of botulism associated with a low acid garlic-in-oil product which needs constant refrigeration. In response, the Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to prevent a recurrence by requiring that microbial inhibitors or acidifying agents be added to such products.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2240308&dopt=Abstract garlic