Garlic [Allium sativum]: A Review of its Potential Use as an Anti-Cancer Agent

Abstract

Garlic [Allium sativum] is among the oldest of all cultivated plants. It has been used as a medicinal agent for thousands of years. It is a remarkable plant, which has multiple beneficial effects such as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, hypolipidemic, antiarthritic, hypoglycemic and antitumor activity. In this review, we will discuss particularly the largely preclinical use of this agent in the treatment and prevention of cancer. A number of studies have demonstrated the chemopreventive activity of garlic by using different garlic preparations including fresh garlic extract, aged garlic, garlic oil and a number of organosulfur compounds derived from garlic. The chemopreventive activity has been attributed to the presence of organosulfur compounds in garlic. How this is achieved is not fully understood, but several modes of action have been proposed. These include its effect on drug metabolizing enzymes, antioxidant properties and tumor growth inhibition. Most of these studies were carried out in the animal models. Also, recent research has focused on the antimutagenic activity of garlic. Recently, it has been observed that aged garlic extract, but not the fresh garlic extract, exhibited radical scavenging activity. The two major compounds in aged garlic, S-allylcysteine and S-allylmercapto-L-cysteine, had the highest radical scavenging activity. In addition, some organosulfur compounds derived from garlic, including S-allylcysteine, have been found to retard the growth of chemically induced and transplantable tumors in several animal models. Therefore, the consumption of garlic may provide some kind of protection from cancer development.

Tomato and garlic by gavage modulate 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice

“…Recently, we have reported dose-dependent protection of tomato paste against DMBA-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice as well as the incidence of hamster buccal pouch tumors (4,9). The antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects of garlic and its organosulfur constituent SAC have also been reported by us as well as by others (3,5,9).…”

“…used for flavoring and as a medicinal herb for centuries, is known to exhibit antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects. Epidemiological studies have provided evidence that an increased intake of tomato and garlic is associated with a decreased cancer risk (2,3). In previous studies from this laboratory, we demonstrated the modulatory effects of tomato and garlic on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant and detoxification systems during chemoprevention of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis (4,5).…”

Medicinal Plants for Treatment of Cancer: A Brief Review

“…Thirdly, the molecular mechanism involved in the anticancer activity of SLs, in particular, the SL-thiols reaction, the effect of SLs on cell signaling pathways such as nuclear transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). [36][37][38][39] Biophytum sensitivum An alcoholic extract of Biophytum sensitivum (Oxalidaceae) leaves was also found to be cytotoxic towards L929 cells in culture at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. The extract was 100% toxic at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml to Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells.…”

Eating garlic and onion: a matter of life or death

“…Although how these compounds achieve chemoprevention is not fully understood, several modes of action have been proposed (Knowles and Milner, 2001;Griffiths et al, 2002;Rahman, 2003;Thomson and Ali, 2003). These include: (i) effect on drug metabolising enzymes (i.e.…”