Toxicity of anticancer drugs and its prevention with special reference to role of garlic constituents

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of death globally. World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 70% of death caused by cancer occurs in low or middle income countries which may be due to unavailability of correct treatment or delayed medical support. Despite of different therapies available to cure the cancer or to prolong the life of cancer survivors; chemotherapy is still central to cancer therapy. Administration of chemotherapeutic drugs either independently or in combination with other therapies such as irradiation or surgery provides relief to cancer patients. Nitrogen mustards were the first anticancer agents used in chemotherapy in 1940s. Their clinical use accelerated the development of different anticancers drugs. Due to the reports of toxicities of these anticancer drugs, herbal remedies for cancer treatment found notion of oncologists. A number of herbal extracts and natural products have shown the potential of anticancer activity. They also reduce the toxicity of synthetic anticancer drugs. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the herbal remedies with high anticancer potentia l and ability to mitigate the toxicities of anticancer drugs. The protective effects of garlic against the toxicities of anticancer drugs have been reported in a number of studies and it has also been reported that fresh garlic and aged garlic extra ct show considerable protective effects. Allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate) is the major pharmacological component of garlic which has attracted attention of the international medical field gradually due to its potential for disease prevention and trea tment. The major unique organosulfur compounds in aged garlic extract such as water-soluble S-allyl cysteine (SAC) and Sallylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) have potent antioxidant activity. Many reports show the protective potential of these garlic constituents against anticancer drug-induced toxicities. Here, we present review of toxicities caused by anticancer drugs and their mechanism of action along with the efficacy of some plant extracts and natural products in reducing toxicity of anticancer drugs with special reference to of garlic constituents.

Bioactive Compounds and Biological Functions of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

“…Garlic has been indicated to mitigate the adverse effects of several anticancer therapies [127]. In one study, AGE improved the renal histological, ultrastructural, and biochemical changes induced by cisplatin therapy, such as hemorrhaging, glomerular atrophy, tubular necrosis, and degeneration in adult male rats [128].…”

NLRP3 inflammasome in rosmarinic acid-afforded attenuation of acute kidney injury in mice

“…Under various physiological conditions NF-κB and COX-2 participate in the regulation of cell signaling and play a critical role in CP-induced AKI in mice 26 . It has been reported that the NF-κB pathway depending on the degradation of IκB becomes activated with CP treatment and increases the release of inflammatory cytokine series including TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF1β 27 . It is also reported that the upregulation of IL-6 is the hallmark of activation of NFκB signaling and inflammation 28 , 29 .…”

Garlic as a Potential Nominee in Functional Food Industry

“…Garlic has negative effect against linoleic acid by increasing the effect of eicosatetraenoic acid, which is a breast cancer suppressor [52]. Probability of hormone receptive cancer is repressed by Sulfur compounds of garlic such as allyl-sulfides because of its aquaphobic environment and estrogen receptors with cysteine residue in hormone binding [53]. Different studies have been done which proves garlic and organic allyl Sulfur elements has capability to prevent cancer process.…”