Garlic organosulfur compounds

Nian H, Delage B, Ho E, Dashwood RH. (2009) Modulation of histone deacetylase activity by dietary isothio-cyanates and allyl sulfides Studies with sulforaphane and garlic organosulfur compounds. Environ Mol Mutagen 50 213-221. 

SPARNINS V L, BARANY G, WATTENBERG Lw. (1988) Effects of organosulfur compounds from garlic and onions on benzo[a]pyrene-induced neoplasia and glutathione S-transferase activity in the mouse. Carcinogenesis. 9 131-4. 

Organosulfur compounds present inAllium vegetables, which are either lipid or water soluble, are considered responsible for the beneficial effects of these herbs. Garlic derivatives generally have a thioallyl moiety, whereas onion extracts contain a thiopropyl group with somewhat different chemical properties [14]. 

It is clear that the chemopreventive activity of garlic is related to the organosulfur compounds (OSCS) derived from garlic. Although how garlic achieves chemoprevention is not fully understood, several modes of action have been proposed on the basis of recent studies. 

The pharmacologic activity of garlic involves a variety of organosulfur compounds. The most notable of these is allicin, which is responsible for the characteristic garlic odor. 

Sulfur is chemically similar to, but more diverse than, oxygen. Whereas, with the exception of peroxides, most chemically combined organic oxygen is in the -2 oxidation state, sulfur occurs in the -2, +4, and +6 oxidation states. Many organosulfur compounds are noted for their foul, rotten egg, or garlic odors, which makes them very unpleasant environmental contaminants, but warns of their presence even at very low levels. A number of example organosulfur compounds are shown in Figure 1.19. 

Gebhardt, R. and Beck, H. 1996. Differential inhibitory effects of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds on cholesterol biosynthesis in primary rat hepatocyte culture. Lipids 31, 1269-1276. Gehm, B.D., McAndrews, J.M., Chien, P.Y., and Jameson, J.L. 1997. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, is an agonist for estrogen receptor. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 94, 14138-14143. 

Yu-Yan, Y. and Liu, L. 2001. Cholesterol lowering effect of garlic extracts and organosulfur compounds human and animal studies. J. Nutr. 131, 989S-993S. 

Metabolic Fate of Garlic-Derived Organosulfur Compounds.222... 

Example of Conditions Used to Run an HPLC Analysis on Various Organosulfur Compounds in Garlic... 

METABOLIC FATE OF GARLIC-DERIVED ORGANOSULFUR COMPOUNDS... 

Gebhardt, R. and Beck, H. (1996) Differential inhibitory effects of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds on cholesterol biosynthesis in primary rat hepatocyte cultures. Lipids. 31 1269-1276. 

Lawson, L.D. (1993) Bioactive organosulfur compounds of garlic and garlic products Role in reducing blood lipids. In Human Medicinal Agents from Plants. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 306-330. 

Lawson, L.D. and Wang, Z J. (1993) Pre-hepatic fate of the organosulfur compounds derived from garlic (Allium sativum). Planta Med. 59 A688-A689. 

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