Anticancer effects of diallyl trisulfide derived from garlic

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008:17 Suppl 1:249-52.

Abstract

Alk(en)yl sulfides are characteristic flavor components of garlic. Several lines of epidemiological study indicate that the risk of a certain cancer can be prevented by consumption of garlic. In this manuscript, we examined the anticancer property of garlic-derived alk(en)yl sulfides, and the molecular basis especially for diallyl trisulfide which is a major constituent of the garlic oil. Alk(en)yl sulfides with different numbers of sulfur atom (i.e., mono-, di-, and trisulfide) were synthesized and purified (>99%). The anticancer activity of the alk(en)yl sulfides was primarily examined using human colon cancer cells HCT-15 and DLD-1. The growth of the cells was significantly suppressed by diallyl trisulfide, but neither diallyl monosulfide nor diallyl disulfide showed such an effect. The number of cells arrested at G2/M phase, the cells with a sub-G1 DNA content, and the cells with caspase-3 activity were dramatically increased by diallyl trisulfide treatment. Diallyl trisulfide disrupted microtubule network formation of the cells, and microtubule fragments could be seen at the interphase. There was a specific oxidative modification of cysteine residues Cys12 beta and Cys354 beta, forming S-allylmercaptocysteines in the tubulin molecule. These results suggest that diallyl trisulfide is responsible, at least in part, for the epidemiologically proven anticancer effect for garlic eaters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Allyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Garlic / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / ultrastructure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Sulfides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Allyl Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Sulfides
  • diallyl trisulfide