Search

Garlic exhibits hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular benefits. The inconsistent results of garlic preparations on adipogenesis have caused more confusion in the public and academia. The compounds responsible for the anti-adipogenesis effect of garlic remain unknown. The present study aimed to verify the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity component in garlic and explored its possible effects in metabolic syndrome. We verified the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity components of garlic in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a 10-week-high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro, two water-soluble and four typical lipid-soluble compounds of garlic were tested for their anti-adipogenesis. Then, the water-soluble compound, alliin, and two processing methods produced garlic oils, were evaluated in vivo study. Mice received oral administration of alliin (25 mg/kg) and garlic oils (15 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Serum lipids, parameters of obesity, and indicators involved in regulating glycolipid metabolism were examined. Our findings confirmed that both water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic contributed to garlic's anti-adipogenesis effect, in which water-soluble sulfides, especially alliin, exhibited greater potency. Alliin possessed potent effects of anti-obesity and improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Alliin mediated these effects partly attributed to its modulation of enzymatic activities within glycolipid metabolism and activating PPARγ signaling pathway. In contrast to odorous lipid-soluble sulfides, alliin is odorless, stable, and safe, and is an ideal nutraceutical or even medicinal candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alliin could be used to standardize the quality of garlic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the effect of alliin on the recovery of mouse testicular function and structure following estradiol treatment as well as on apoptosis regulation. During the cultivation of testicular cells, high-concentration estradiol suppressed Casp-3; PCNA, mTOR, and PI3K signaling increased; and cell proliferation in the testes was abnormally increased. Therefore, estradiol treatment increased the proportion of abnormal cells. The estradiol and 2.5 μM of alliin treatment increased Casp-3 levels and suppressed Bcl-2, PCNA, mTOR, and PI3K expression. Additionally, treatment with estradiol caused tissue loss. Furthermore, Ca2+ deposition decreased, TNF-r protein expression increased, and the levels of other protein markers of cell survival and death decreased. Tissue recovery and restoration of the testes occurred after alliin treatment; the gene expression of cell survival and death markers, except for TNF-r, increased with increasing Ca2+ deposition. Cell proliferation and tissue reorganization may correlate with an increased signal of intrinsic apoptosis owing to increased Ca2+ deposition. Therefore, treatment with alliin may regulate the apoptosis of cells with normal or abnormal signal transduction and help to revert testicular dysfunction.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and impaired islet secretion that places a heavy burden on the global health care system due to its high incidence rate, long disease course and many complications. Fortunately, garlic (Allium sativum L.), a well-known medicinal plant and functional food without the toxicity and side effects of conventional drugs, has shown positive effects in the treatment of diabetes and its complications. With interdisciplinary development and in-depth exploration, we offer a clear and comprehensive summary of the research from the past ten years, focusing on the mechanisms and development processes of garlic in the treatment of diabetes and its complications, aiming to provide a new perspective for the treatment of diabetes and promote the efficient development of this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare and analyze the medicinal quality of garlic, a garlic medicinal quality evaluation system was established. Moisture, ash, water-soluble extract, diallyl trisulfide content, alliin content, allicin content and alliinase activity were screened out as indicators to analyze the medicinal quality of garlic from 11 regions, including Minle, Pizhou, Jinxiang, Zhengzhou, Wuxi, Qiemo, Baicheng, Zhongmachang, Hutou, Dayou and Xindi. The correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to determine the quality of garlic in different regions. The results showed that all the above-mentioned indicators of garlic from different regions had significant differences. The correlation analysis showed that alliinase activity had an extremely significant and positive correlation with moisture (P

This research aims to assess the anti-hyperlipidemia effects of alliin in vivo and its potential mechanisms through transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. A hyperlipidemia mode was established in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet, and the related physiological parameters of the animals were recorded. Serum TC and MDA in livers significantly decreased by 12.34% and 29.59%, respectively, and SOD and CAT in livers significantly increased by 40.64% and 39.05%, respectively, after high doses of alliin interventions. In total, 148 significantly different genes, particularly Cel, Sqle, Myc, and Ugt1a2, were revealed for their potential roles in HFD-induced alliin, mainly through steroid biosynthesis, triglyceride metabolism, drug metabolism–cytochrome P450, and the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, according to transcriptomics analysis. Metabolomics results revealed 18 significantly different metabolites between the alliin group and HFD group, which were classified as carboxylic acids, such as N-undecanoylglycine, adipic acid, D-pantothenic acid, cyprodenate, and pivagabine. We found pantothenic acid played a vital role and was effective through pantothenic acid and CoA biosynthesis metabolism. The "steroid biosynthesis pathway" was identified as the most significant metabolic pathway by integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. This work offered a theoretical framework for the mechanism of alliin lipid lowering in the future. The development and utilization of alliin will be a viable strategy to improve the health status of people with hyperlipidemia, suggesting prospective market opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain foods modify the risk of developing melanoma. Various garlic compounds, including odor precursors and their derivatives, inhibit tumor growth; thus, garlic could protect against melanoma. However, it is unclear if S-allyl-L-cystine sulfoxide (ACSO/alliin), which is the most abundant (>10 mg/g) odor precursor in fresh raw garlic, has anti-melanoma effect. We investigated if ACSO and the related compounds suppress tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. We orally administered ACSO, S-methyl-L-cystine sulfoxide (MCSO), and S-allyl-L-cystine (ACS) to mice with xenografted melanoma and observed the effect of these administrations on tumor size and lactate dehydrogenase activity. The effect of ACSO, MCSO, and ACS on B16F1 melanoma cells viability was also studied. We found that only ACSO suppressed tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. In addition, the sera collected from rats after oral administration of ACSO suppressed melanoma proliferation in vitro. ACSO may be the key anti-melanoma compound in garlic.

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Molecular docking was used to assess the binding affinities of different active compounds to the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and PLpro proteins. According to the results, the native ligands of the evaluated proteins had the highest binding affinities. The native ligand of 3CLpro is titled WU-02 and has a binding affinity of -7.9 for the protein. The native ligand of Plpro is titled inhibitor 3k and has an affinity of -8.6 towards the protein. Out of the evaluated molecules, shogaol and 6-gingerol had high affinities for 3CLpro. Other molecules that showed a high affinity were 8 and 10 gingerol (-5.4 kcal/mol), and S-allyl-cysteine (-5.5 kcal/mol). In the case of PLpro, shogaol stands out with an affinity of -7.6 kcal/mol followed by 6 and 8 gingerol. The findings imply that these compounds could be good inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro and 3CLpro proteins. However, further research is needed to establish the effectiveness and safety of these drugs in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of black garlic has been related to a decreased risk of many human diseases due to the presence of phytochemicals such as organosulfur compounds (OSCs). However, information on the metabolization of these compounds in humans is limited. By means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), this study aims to determine the OSCs and their metabolites excreted in urine 24 h after an acute intake of 20 g of black garlic by healthy humans. Thirty-three OSCs were identified and quantified, methiin (17,954 ± 6040 nmol), isoalliin (15,001 ± 9241 nmol), S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine (8804 ± 7220 nmol) and S-propyl-L-cysteine (deoxypropiin) (7035 ± 1392 nmol) being the main ones. Also detected were the metabolites N-acetyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine (NASAC), N-acetyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (NASACS) and N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine (NACPC), derived from S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), alliin and S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine, respectively. These compounds are potentially N-acetylated in the liver and kidney. The total excretion of OSCs 24 h after the ingestion of black garlic was 64,312 ± 26,584 nmol. A tentative metabolic pathway has been proposed for OSCs in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Allium hookeri is a source of organosulfur compounds including alliin which is an antihyperglycemic phytochemical. Purpose: This study tested the effect of methanolic extract (ME) of A. hookeri on glucose uptake and glutathione biosynthesis using sodium palmitate (0.75 mM) induced insulin resistant cultured hepatocytes. Method: The plant extract was prepared following standard protocol followed by bioactivity- guided fractionation. The plant extract and fractions were tested for glucose uptake assay, cellular glutathione level. Further, immunoblotting study was carried out to check the protein expression of the genes involved in glutathione biosynthesis and glucose metabolism. Results: Bioactivity-guided fractionation showed that the aqueous fraction from the methanolic A. hookeri extract (ME) was rich in alliin and the alliin-enriched standardized fraction (EFr) appeared to regulate glucose homeostasis as the cellular glutathione pool in the palmitate treated hepatocytes remained unaltered. Alteration in cellular glutathione level affects glucose homeostasis. We also observed that expressions of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLC), glutathione reductase (GR), genes involved in hepatic glutathione biosynthesis were downregulated in palmitate and upregulated in EFr treated hepatocytes. GLUT2 protein expression was upregulated in the palmitate treated and downregulated in the EFr treated hepatocytes, but no change was observed in the protein expression of the gene glutathione synthase (GS). Conclusions: Our results show that EFr of A. hookeri leaves may be a potent botanical drug against type2 diabetes due to its role in the regulation of hepatic glutathione pool.

There is an enormous demand in the food industry to shift toward natural flavors. However, most flavor molecules are significantly unstable outside their original sources. Moreover, limited studies are focused on the flavor formation mechanisms, regeneration methods, and stability, which could help facilitate this replacement by establishing a link between food processing conditions and flavor generation. This scoping review summarizes major findings related to the identification of garlic, onion, and chili pepper flavors and their precursor molecules, formation mechanisms, generation of flavors and precursors, characterization methods, and precursor stability under thermal food processing conditions. The findings confirmed that the allium flavors could be generated by alliin and isoalliin precursors through thermal processing. Also, the literature lacks detailed knowledge about chili pepper flavor's precursors, and only capsaicinoids have been reported as a thermally stable chili pepper flavor. Although numerous studies have focused on this area, there is still a lack of detailed applicable knowledge. Future investigations can be framed into (1) Development of efficient methods to generate flavors during food processing; (2) Improvement of flavors' stability; (3) Understanding the interactions of flavors and their precursors with other food ingredients and additives; and (4) Characterization of the organoleptic properties of flavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Use of natural products for management of diseases has increased widely due to the belief that natural products are less toxic than conventional medicines. Natural products have been utilised for management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancers. Respiratory infections have also been managed using natural products. Allium sativum is one of the natural products that has been utilised in the management of SARS-CoV infections, diabetes and cancer. Methods: This study was aimed at screening bioactive agents in Allium sativum using computational analysis. The targets of the bioactive agents were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction tools. Molecular docking followed, where the docking energies of the bioactive agents to the targets were generated. The bioactive agents were analysed for pharmacokinetics properties using SwissADME as well as toxicity profiles using the ProTox II webserver. The docking scores, toxicities and pharmacokinetics profiles of the bioactive agents in Allium sativum were compared with those of reference compounds. Results: All the bioactives showed lower docking scores than the reference compounds. The bioactives, however, showed some activity on specific receptors such as carbonic anhydrases, cyclooxygenase and ghrelin. All the bioactives showed high gastrointestinal tract absorption and none violated Lipinski’s rule of five. Diallyl trisulphide was predicted to be most lethal, with an LD50 of 100mg/kg, while was the safest, with 8000mg/kg. Conclusions: In conclusion, bioactives showed lower docking scores than the reference compounds, therefore overall pharmacological activity could be attributed to synergy between the bioactives for a particular receptor.

This research aims to assess the anti-hyperlipidemia effects of alliin in vivo and its potential mechanisms through transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. A hyperlipidemia mode was established in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet, and the related physiological parameters of the animals were recorded. Serum TC and MDA in livers significantly decreased by 12.34% and 29.59%, respectively, and SOD and CAT in livers significantly increased by 40.64% and 39.05%, respectively, after high doses of alliin interventions. In total, 148 significantly different genes, particularly Cel, Sqle, Myc, and Ugt1a2, were revealed for their potential roles in HFD-induced alliin, mainly through steroid biosynthesis, triglyceride metabolism, drug metabolism–cytochrome P450, and the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, according to transcriptomics analysis. Metabolomics results revealed 18 significantly different metabolites between the alliin group and HFD group, which were classified as carboxylic acids, such as N-undecanoylglycine, adipic acid, D-pantothenic acid, cyprodenate, and pivagabine. We found pantothenic acid played a vital role and was effective through pantothenic acid and CoA biosynthesis metabolism. The “steroid biosynthesis pathway” was identified as the most significant metabolic pathway by integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. This work offered a theoretical framework for the mechanism of alliin lipid lowering in the future. The development and utilization of alliin will be a viable strategy to improve the health status of people with hyperlipidemia, suggesting prospective market opportunities.

Due to the rapid development of bioinformatics, network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches have been successfully applied in the investigation of mechanisms of action. Here, we combined network pharmacology and molecular docking to predict the targets and reveal the molecular mechanism responsible for regulating autophagy by alliin. Based on the influence of alliin on autophagy, the targets of alliin were screened on the basis of different rules such as structural similarity by Pharmmapper, and genes associated with autophagy were collected from the GeneCards database. We focused on clarifying the biological processes and signalling pathways related to autophagy. Through the cytoHubba plug‐in and a series of integrated bioinformatics analyses, the top nine hub nodes with higher degrees were obtained. And finally, through the LibDock included in Discovery Studio 2019, molecular docking method was adopted to declare the reliability of the interaction between alliin and hub targets. The results suggest that alliin‐activated autophagy was possibly associated with pathways in cancer and the PI3K‐AKT signalling pathway. Furthermore, the potential targets (AKT1, MAPK14, MAPK, HSPA8, EGFR, HSP90AA1, SRC HSPA1A and HSP90AB1) were swimmingly screened on the basis of this practical strategy. Molecular docking analysis indicates that alliin can bind with AKT1 and EGFR with good binding scores. This network pharmacology could be an invaluable strategy for the investigation of action mechanisms of alliin‐activated autophagy. This study not only provides new and systematic insights into the underlying mechanism of alliin on autophagy, but also provides novel ideas for network approaches for autophagy‐related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an herbaceous plant and is recognised for its numerous medicinal and culinary properties, and it is used in diverse food preparations for its characteristic flavour and aroma. High alliin content increases the formation of allicin, a bioactive compound of garlic. Therefore, this research aimed to compare different extraction methods for garlic (Allium sativum L.) between subcritical water extraction (SWE) and Soxhlet extraction to obtain a high extraction yield and alliin content. The SWE conditions were 120 °C and 180 °C temperatures and 2 mL/min and 6 mL/min flow rates at a constant pressure of 15 MPa for a 10 min extraction time, respectively. In the meanwhile, the extraction time for Soxhlet extraction with various solvents, namely, distilled water, ethanol–water (1:1), and 100% ethanol, was two hours. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse alliin. Soxhlet extraction had the best yield (1.96 g) using ethanol–water (1:1) as the solvent in comparison to SWE extraction (1.28 g) at 180 °C and 6 mL/min. In contrast, SWE yielded a greater concentration of alliin (136.82 mg/g) at 120 °C and 2 mL/min than the Soxhlet method when using distilled water as the solvent (65.18 mg/g). Therefore, SWE may replace Soxhlet extraction as the conventional method for extracting alliin from garlic at a high concentration, and SWE has advantages that favour garlic extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic ( Allium sativum ) has been traditionally valued for its medicinal properties attributed to the presence of organosulfur compounds. Despite its benefits, concerns about herbal extract toxicity have arisen, necessitating safety assessment . This study was designed to evaluate the chemical analysis and safety profile of Alliin-Rich Garlic Extract (ARGE) using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. The ARGE was extracted from garlic cloves ( Allium sativum Linn: UIH-23262) using a microwave-assisted method and characterized using UPLC-ESI-MS, 1 H NMR, HPLC and IR. Its safety evaluation was determined using D. melanogaster (Harwich strain), and various assays were conducted on 1-3-day-old flies. Toxicological markers and oxidative stress were assessed to understand the impact of ARGE on the flies. Chemical profiling of ARGE using UPLC-ESI-MS, confirmed the presence of alliin (S-ally-L-cysteine-S-oxide), L-arginine, γ-glutamylmethionine, S-(2-carboxypropyl) glutathione, N-γ-glutamyl-S-(1-propenyl) cysteine, N-γ-glutamyl-S-(2-propenyl) cysteine, N-γ-glutamylphenylalanine, S-(allylthio) cysteine, γ-glutamyl-S-allylthiocysteine and eruboside B. HPLC confirmed an alliin content of 0.073 mg/g. Toxicological assessment in D. melanogaster revealed that ARGE enhanced antioxidant defenses by increasing total thiol levels and GST activity, while reducing acetylcholinesterase activity. No significant alteration was observed in catalase activity and cellular metabolic rate. Histological examination revealed no alterations in the histoarchitecture of the brain, fat body or gut of D. melanogaster . The study demonstrated the safety of ARGE in D. melanogaster , supporting its potential as a safe herbal remedy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Diets rich in cruciferous vegetables have been associated with a lower risk of incidence and progression of prostate cancer. Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate derived from 4-methylsulphinylbutyl glucosinolate (glucoraphanin) that accumulates in certain of these vegetables, notably broccoli, has been implicated in their protective effects. Likewise, the consumption of garlic and its sulphur-containing compounds such as alliin have been associated with a reduction in risk of prostate cancer. In this study, we tested whether consuming glucoraphanin derived from broccoli seeds and alliin derived from garlic resulted in the occurrence of these potential bioactive compounds in the prostate, which may contribute to our understanding of the putative protective effects of these dietary components. We recruited 42 men scheduled for a trans-perineal prostate biopsy into a randomised, double-blinded, 2 × 2-factorial dietary supplement four-week intervention study, and 39 completed the study. The two active interventions were supplements providing glucoraphanin from broccoli (BroccoMax®) and alliin from garlic (Kwai Heartcare®). Following the intervention, prostate biopsy tissue was analysed for the presence of sulforaphane and its thiol conjugates and for alliin and associated metabolites. Sulforaphane occurred in significantly higher levels in the prostate tissue (both within the transition and peripheral zone) of men consuming the glucoraphanin containing supplements (p < 0.0001) compared to men not consuming these supplements. However, while alliin and alliin-derived metabolites were detected within the prostate, there was no significant difference in the concentrations of these compounds in the prostate of men consuming supplements derived from garlic compared to men not consuming these supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the recently discovered coronavirus and affects several countries worldwide. Some medications may alleviate or minimize some of the disease symptoms, but no drug have been proven to prevent or cure it. However, this study was aimed at investigating the role of some medicinal plants as potent inhibitors of COVID-19 main protease (MPro). More than 250 plant extracts with antiviral activity were exploited for their potential SARS-CoV2 medication using molecular docking. The conformational stability of the compounds extracted from the plants with MPro interactions was evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations. Then, the plant extracts with the highest binding energies were used for treatments by administering them to 50 COVID-19 patients, while the other 50 cases received only the drug without the plant extracts. The results of the theoretical analysis revealed high binding energies for seven compounds. Alliin stabilized COVID-19's MPro while retaining critical connections and remained stable throughout the simulations. Marrubin and thymoquinone are also capable of protein stabilization over the simulated time. The test plants were observed to be effective against the virus in the COVID-19 patients, with a disease symptom improvement response rate of 78-86 and 60-72% for the first and second groups, respectively. Also, the percentage of oxygen increased from the second day after taking the extracts. Ground-glass opacity disappeared from the second group that received the plant extracts. The findings of this study suggest that these compounds have a great potential for therapeutic activity if isolated and administered alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S -Allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) has received much interest due to its beneficial effects on human health. To satisfy the increasing demand for SAC, this study aims to develop a valuable culturing method for microbial screening synthesizing SAC from readily available materials. Although tryptophan synthase is a promising enzyme for SAC synthesis, its expression in microorganisms is strictly regulated by environmental L-tryptophan. Thus, we constructed a semisynthetic medium lacking L-tryptophan using casamino acids. This medium successfully enhanced the SAC-synthesizing activity of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris NBRC 100676. In addition, microorganisms with high SAC-synthesizing activity were screened by the same medium. Food-related Klebsiella pneumoniae K-15 and Pantoea agglomerans P-3 were found to have a significantly increased SAC-synthesizing activity. The SAC-producing process established in this study is shorter in duration than the conventional garlic aging method. Furthermore, this study proposes a promising alternative strategy for producing food-grade SAC by microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Allium sativum (garlic) is an economically important food source and medicinal plant rich in sulfides and other protective substances such as alliin, the precursor of allicin biosynthesis. Cysteine, serine and sulfur is the precursor of alliin biosynthesis. However, little is known about the alliin content under abiotic stress or the mechanism by which it is synthesized. Results The findings revealed that the content of alliin was lowest in the garlic roots, and highest in the buds. Furthermore, alliin levels decreased in mature leaves following wounding. Transcriptome data generated over time after wounding further revealed significant up-regulation of genes integral to the biosynthetic pathways of cysteine and serine in mature garlic leaves. Conclusions The findings suggest that differential expression of cysteine, serine and sulfide-related genes underlies the accumulation of alliin and its precursors in garlic, providing a basis for further analyses of alliin biosynthesis.

The consumption of black garlic has been related to a decreased risk of many human diseases due to the presence of phytochemicals such as organosulfur compounds (OSCs). However, information on the metabolization of these compounds in humans is limited. By means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), this study aims to determine the OSCs and their metabolites excreted in urine 24 h after an acute intake of 20 g of black garlic by healthy humans. Thirty-three OSCs were identified and quantified, methiin (17,954 ± 6040 nmol), isoalliin (15,001 ± 9241 nmol), S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine (8804 ± 7220 nmol) and S-propyl-L-cysteine (deoxypropiin) (7035 ± 1392 nmol) being the main ones. Also detected were the metabolites N-acetyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine (NASAC), N-acetyl-S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (NASACS) and N-acetyl-S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine (NACPC), derived from S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), alliin and S-(2-carboxypropyl)-L-cysteine, respectively. These compounds are potentially N-acetylated in the liver and kidney. The total excretion of OSCs 24 h after the ingestion of black garlic was 64,312 ± 26,584 nmol. A tentative metabolic pathway has been proposed for OSCs in humans.

Objective To investigate the antibacterial mechanism of alliin in vitro. Methods In March 2020,the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in alliin were determined by microdilution method in vitro. The alliin on the surface of the thalli was observed by fluorescence microscope. The immune electron microscopy technique was used to observe alliin on the distribution of bacteria in the body. Results Alliin in Escherichia coli, salmonella typhi, staphylococcus aureus, the MIC of white staphylococcus were 3.047,6.094,0.386,0.386 μg/mL, respectively. Alliin had no bactericidal activity in vitro. Alliin bound to the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria more than that of Gram-negative bacteria, and the Alliin existed in bacteria of the body. Conclusion Alliin with thalli protein, bacterial enzyme protein can block mass exchange between the bacteria and the environment, and inhibit bacterial life activities. Alliin has strong bacteriostas without sterilization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic, a once-a-year crop, is mass-produced in a single event. Most of the garlic harvested during the year, unless consumed or processed immediately, should be stored. Stored raw garlic (SRG) can be used to make black garlic (BG) via aging, and storage may affect the properties and quality of the BG compared with the use of raw garlic that has not been stored. This study was performed to identify the effect of long-term storage of raw garlic on the quality of BG products. SRG was aged for 21 days at 40–86 °C for BG production. Moisture content and pH gradually decreased with the aging period. Total phenolic, total flavonoid, and fructose contents were significantly increased during the aging period. Compared with non-stored raw garlic (NSRG), alliin and S-allylcysteine (SAC) contents were 1.7-fold and 5.9-fold higher in SRG, respectively, and γ-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine (γ-GSAC) content was 2.8-fold lower in SRG. The contents of alliin and γ-GSAC reduced as the aging period of SRG and NSRG progressed. However, the SAC content of NSRG increased with aging, but the SAC content of SRG decreased or increased slightly with extended aging. The antioxidant activity was also higher in BG made from NSRG rather than SRG. These results show that the SAC content is relatively low in BG manufactured from SRG compared with NSRG. Our findings suggest that it is necessary to establish an aging method suitable for SRG in BG production with high SAC content, a representative indicator of BG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma membrane transporter LAT1 (SLC7A5) is a crucial player for cell homeostasis because it is responsible for providing cells with essential amino acids and hormones. LAT1 forms a functional heterodimer with the cell surface antigen heavy chain CD98 (also known as 4F2hc and SLC3A2), a type II membrane glycoprotein, which is essential for LAT1 stability and localization to the plasma membrane. The relevance of LAT1 for human metabolism is also related to its altered expression in human diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. These features boosted research toward molecules that are able to interact with LAT1; in this respect, the recent resolution of the LAT1-CD98 3D structure by Cryo-EM has opened important perspectives in the study of the interaction with different molecules in order to identify new drugs to be used in therapy or new substrates of natural origin to be employed as adjuvants and food supplements. In this work, the interaction of LAT1 with alliin, a garlic derivative, has been investigated by using a combined approach of bioinformatics and in vitro transport assays. Alliin is a nutraceutical that has several beneficial effects on human health, such as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The computational analysis suggested that alliin interacts with the substrate binding site of LAT1, to which alliin was docked. These data were then confirmed by the competitive type inhibition measured in proteoliposomes. Interestingly, in the same experimental model, alliin was also revealed to be a substrate of LAT1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma membrane transporter LAT1 (SLC7A5) is a crucial player for cell homeostasis because it is responsible for providing cells with essential amino acids and hormones. LAT1 forms a functional heterodimer with the cell surface antigen heavy chain CD98 (also known as 4F2hc and SLC3A2), a type II membrane glycoprotein, which is essential for LAT1 stability and localization to the plasma membrane. The relevance of LAT1 for human metabolism is also related to its altered expression in human diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. These features boosted research toward molecules that are able to interact with LAT1; in this respect, the recent resolution of the LAT1-CD98 3D structure by Cryo-EM has opened important perspectives in the study of the interaction with different molecules in order to identify new drugs to be used in therapy or new substrates of natural origin to be employed as adjuvants and food supplements. In this work, the interaction of LAT1 with alliin, a garlic derivative, has been investigated by using a combined approach of bioinformatics and in vitro transport assays. Alliin is a nutraceutical that has several beneficial effects on human health, such as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The computational analysis suggested that alliin interacts with the substrate binding site of LAT1, to which alliin was docked. These data were then confirmed by the competitive type inhibition measured in proteoliposomes. Interestingly, in the same experimental model, alliin was also revealed to be a substrate of LAT1.

Due to the development of garlic cultivation, quantitative and qualitative evaluations of garlic ecotypes in different regions are important for breeding purposes. In this study, some vegetative and phytochemical traits of eight Iranian garlic ecotypes were assayed in a RCBD with three replications at Darab Agricultural Research Station, Iran during 2017-2018 growing season. The results showed that there is a significant difference among garlic ecotypes in terms of studied traits (P <0.01). In general, Tarom and Tafresh ecotypes showed the highest plant height, number of leaves, length of garlic leaves, leaf width, fresh weight, dry weight and the highest bulb diameter. Highest dry weight of garlic bulb (g) per plant was obtained in Darab (79.0 g), Tarom (75.5 g), and Talesh (75.0 g) ecotypes, with no significant difference among them (P = 0.01). Hamedan and Kerman ecotypes contained higher allicin content, alliin content, TPC, TFC, and TAC than the other ecotypes. Cluster analysis divided ecotypes into three distinct groups. Talesh and Hamedan ecotypes had the lowest similarity (0.34) and Darab and Tafresh ecotypes had the highest similarity (0.97). It can be concluded that Tarom, Tafresh, Hamedan, and Kerman can be recommended for cultivation depending on the quantitative (Tarom and Tafresh) and qualitative (Hamedan and Kerman) goals of cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of viral pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that began in December 2019 caused high mortality. It has been suggested that the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 may be an important target to discover pharmaceutical compounds for the therapy of this life-threatening disease. Remdesivir, ritonavir and chloroquine have all been reported to play a role in suppressing SARS-CoV-2. Here, we applied a molecular docking method to study the binding stability of these drugs with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. It appeared that the ligand–protein binding stability of the alliin and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro complex was better than others. The results suggested that alliin may serve as a good candidate as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Therefore, the present research may provide some meaningful guidance for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Garlic is a valuable source material for medicines due to its known antitumor, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. This study compares the protective effects of conventionally grown (CG) and in vitro propagated garlic (PG) against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells and their antioxidant activity. Garlic used in this study was obtained by planting garlic cloves or by planting the transplants of PG directly in the field. At the end of the vegetation period, CG and PG were sampled and extracts prepared for the experiment. Compared to conventionally grown garlic bulbs, PG leafy part yielded significantly higher content of polyphenols, flavonoids and alliin, and also showed equal or higher antioxidant activity, measured by the cell viability test, GSH and ROS level. Moreover, PG can be produced in less time (shorter vegetation period) and with significantly less material (cloves). Significantly higher content of alliin, polyphenols, and flavonoids and significantly higher yield of plant biomass in PG has a great potential to become a new production model with improved garlic properties as a medicine material.

The aim of this study was to define optimal harvesting date of garlic cv. 'Istarski crveni' by comparing the amount of volatile compounds as one of quality indicators. In total 17 volatile compounds were determined in tested garlic samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography with flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection (HS-SPME-GC-FID-MS) regardless of harvesting date. Major volatiles diallyl trisulfide, diallyl sulfide, methyl allyl disulfide and diallyl disulfide representing 98.5 % of all the determined compounds have shown no significant difference between harvest dates. Significantly higher content of the two minor volatiles, allyl mercaptane and thieno[2,3-b]thiophene, was found in the last and second when compared to the first harvest date. Principal components PC1 and PC2 explained 78% of the total variance and pointed to certain relations between harvest dates and volatiles. The technological maturity had probably been reached at the first harvesting date since similar amounts of volatiles were found during the observed period.

Introduction: Giant garlic is a functional food that contains different kinds of bioactive molecules with beneficial effects on chronic noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Considering biosynthesis pathways, abundance, and biological activity, alliin and S‐allyl‐cysteine were used as chemical markers of organosulphur compounds present in giant garlic. Objective: To establish a chemometric optimisation of pressurised liquid extraction for the determination of alliin and S‐allyl‐cysteine in giant garlic by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Methodology: Samples were blanched (ca. 90°C for 10 min) to inactivate alliinase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase enzymes and then freeze‐dried. Chemometric optimisation was performed via response surface methodology based on central composite design (CCD). Organosulphur compound yields were determined applying a validated LC–MS/MS method in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the following transitions: for alliin m/z 178 → 74 and for S‐allyl‐cysteine m/z 162 → 41. Results: According to CCD results, under constant conditions of pressure (1500 psi) and time (20 min), the optimal conditions for pressurised liquid extraction of alliin and S‐allyl‐cysteine were 70.75 and 68.97% v/v of ethanol in extraction solvent and 76.45 and 98.88°C as extraction temperature, respectively. Multiple response optimisation for the simultaneous extraction of both organosulphur compounds was established via desirability function. Under these conditions, 2.70 ± 0.27 mg g−1 dry weight (DW) of alliin and 2.79 ± 0.22 mg g−1 DW of S‐allyl‐cysteine were extracted. Conclusions: These results clearly demonstrated that pressurised liquid extraction is an efficient green technique to extract bioactive organosulphur compounds from giant garlic. Extraction yields were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those obtained with conventional ultra‐turrax extraction. Giant garlic is a functional food with beneficial effects on chronic noncommunicable diseases. This work reports the optimisation of pressurised liquid extraction of S‐allyl‐cysteine and alliin from giant garlic. Employing a central composite design, optimal conditions for alliin and S‐allyl‐cysteine extraction were, respectively, 70.75 and 68.97% v/v of ethanol and 76.45 and 98.88°C. Under these conditions, 2.70 ± 0.27 mg g−1 dry weight (DW) of alliin and 2.79 ± 0.22 mg g−1 DW of S‐allyl‐cysteine were extracted, values significantly higher than those obtained with conventional extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an herbaceous plant and is recognised for its numerous medicinal and culinary properties, and it is used in diverse food preparations for its characteristic flavour and aroma. High alliin content increases the formation of allicin, a bioactive compound of garlic. Therefore, this research aimed to compare different extraction methods for garlic (Allium sativum L.) between subcritical water extraction (SWE) and Soxhlet extraction to obtain a high extraction yield and alliin content. The SWE conditions were 120 °C and 180 °C temperatures and 2 mL/min and 6 mL/min flow rates at a constant pressure of 15 MPa for a 10 min extraction time, respectively. In the meanwhile, the extraction time for Soxhlet extraction with various solvents, namely, distilled water, ethanol–water (1:1), and 100% ethanol, was two hours. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse alliin. Soxhlet extraction had the best yield (1.96 g) using ethanol–water (1:1) as the solvent in comparison to SWE extraction (1.28 g) at 180 °C and 6 mL/min. In contrast, SWE yielded a greater concentration of alliin (136.82 mg/g) at 120 °C and 2 mL/min than the Soxhlet method when using distilled water as the solvent (65.18 mg/g). Therefore, SWE may replace Soxhlet extraction as the conventional method for extracting alliin from garlic at a high concentration, and SWE has advantages that favour garlic extracts.

Copyright of Iraq Journal of Market Research & Consumer Protection / Al-Mağallaẗ al-ʿIrāqiyyaẗ li-Buḥūṯ al-Sūq wa-Ḥimāyaẗ al-Mustahlik is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has affected an increasing number of people worldwide while alliin has antibiotic effects and is able to alleviate inflammation. We aim to figure out whether pre-consumption of alliin prevents IBD and better understand the mechanism. Rats were orally administrated with alliin prior to the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The inflammatory status, profiles of gut microbial communities and colonic epithelial cells (CECs) gene expressions were also examined. Our results showed that alliin mitigated the inflammation symptom including colon shrinkage prevention, and leukocyte and neutrophil infiltration attenuation by preserving expression of 23 genes in CECs rather than altering gut microbiota. DSS induced the differentially expressed genes related to rodent immune system, while alliin obviate the DSS-induced pathological change through other systems rather than the immune one. The value and prospect of alliin as a prevention for colitis and the potential gene targets for treating IBD are discussed.

The amount of volatile bioactive compounds of garlic (Allium sativum L.) can be modified by techniques that involve disintegration of cells or/and heat transfer. In this study, after crushing of garlic, the amount of organic sulfides increased in the headspace in the function of time (P

Background: Allium sativum (garlic) is an economically important food source and medicinal plant rich in sulfides and other protective substances such as alliin, the precursor of allicin biosynthesis. Cysteine, serine and sulfur is the precursor of alliin biosynthesis. However, little is known about the alliin content under abiotic stress or the mechanism by which it is synthesized. Results: The findings revealed that the content of alliin was lowest in the garlic roots, and highest in the buds. Furthermore, alliin levels decreased in mature leaves following wounding. Transcriptome data generated over time after wounding further revealed significant up-regulation of genes integral to the biosynthetic pathways of cysteine and serine in mature garlic leaves. Conclusions: The findings suggest that differential expression of cysteine, serine and sulfide-related genes underlies the accumulation of alliin and its precursors in garlic, providing a basis for further analyses of alliin biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic, a once-a-year crop, is mass-produced in a single event. Most of the garlic harvested during the year, unless consumed or processed immediately, should be stored. Stored raw garlic (SRG) can be used to make black garlic (BG) via aging, and storage may affect the properties and quality of the BG compared with the use of raw garlic that has not been stored. This study was performed to identify the effect of long-term storage of raw garlic on the quality of BG products. SRG was aged for 21 days at 40–86 °C for BG production. Moisture content and pH gradually decreased with the aging period. Total phenolic, total flavonoid, and fructose contents were significantly increased during the aging period. Compared with non-stored raw garlic (NSRG), alliin and S-allylcysteine (SAC) contents were 1.7-fold and 5.9-fold higher in SRG, respectively, and γ-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine (γ-GSAC) content was 2.8-fold lower in SRG. The contents of alliin and γ-GSAC reduced as the aging period of SRG and NSRG progressed. However, the SAC content of NSRG increased with aging, but the SAC content of SRG decreased or increased slightly with extended aging. The antioxidant activity was also higher in BG made from NSRG rather than SRG. These results show that the SAC content is relatively low in BG manufactured from SRG compared with NSRG. Our findings suggest that it is necessary to establish an aging method suitable for SRG in BG production with high SAC content, a representative indicator of BG.

Flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis pathway of CSOs with sulfur oxidation. In order to explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of FMO in the synthesis of onion CSOs, based on transcriptome database and phylogenetic analysis, one AcFMO gene that may be involved in alliin synthesis was obtained, the AcFMO had a cDNA of 1 374 bp and encoded 457 amino acids, which was evolutionarily closest to the AsFMO of garlic. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) indicated that AcFMO was the highest in the flowers and the lowest in the leaf sheaths. The results of subcellular localization showed that the AcFMO gene product was widely distributed throughout the cell A yeast expression vector was constructed, and the AcFMO gene was ecotopically overexpressed in yeast to further study the enzyme function in vitro and could catalyze the synthesis of alliin by S-allyl-l-cysteine. In summary, the cloning and functional identification of AcFMO have important reference value for understanding the biosynthesis of CSOs in onions.

S-Substituted-l-cysteine sulfoxides are valuable compounds that are contained in plants. Particularly, (+)-alliin and its degraded products have gained significant attention because of their human health benefits. However, (+)-alliin production has been limited to extraction from plants and chemical synthesis; both methods have drawbacks in terms of stability and safety. Here, we proposed the enzymatic cascade reaction for synthesizing (+)-alliin from readily available substrates. To achieve a one-pot (+)-alliin production, we constructed Escherichia coli coexpressing the genes encoding tryptophan synthase from Aeromonas hydrophila ssp. hydrophila NBRC 3820 and l - isoleucine hydroxylase from Bacillus thuringiensis 2e2 for the biocatalyst. Deletion of tryptophanase gene in E. coli increased the yield about 2-fold. Under optimized conditions, (+)-alliin accumulation reached 110 mM, which is the highest productivity thus far. Moreover, natural and unnatural S-substituted-l-cysteine sulfoxides were synthesized by applying various thiols to the cascade reaction. These results indicate that the developed bioprocess would enable the supply of diverse S-substituted-l-cysteine sulfoxides.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women worldwide, and drug resistance is common in all breast cancer types. The combination of natural products with chemotherapies has attracted attention, as it was found that natural compounds enhance the effects of standard cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and protect from side effects. Into the different natural products, garlic has been recognized for its antitumor properties. It is suggested that its anticancer effects are associated with its organo‐sulfur compounds, especially alliin and allicin. Here, we evaluated the effects of both molecules on cell death, senescence, and their senolytic potential in luminal A and triple‐negative breast cancer cells. MCF‐7 (luminal A) and HCC‐70 (triple‐negative) cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of alliin or allicin. Then, cell viability was determined using the WST‐1 reagent. Apoptosis and caspase activity were evaluated by flow cytometry; ΔΨm was assessed using a JC‐10 fluorometric assay kit. Apoptosis‐related genes were evaluated by RT‐PCR. Proliferation was measured using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. We also evaluated clonogenicity, senescence (β‐Galactosidase Staining), and the senolytic effect of the compounds. Our results showed that allicin has antiproliferative, anticlonogenic, and senolytic effects. In addition, allicin decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis by loss of ΔΨm, caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 activation, upregulation of NOXA, P21, and BAK, as well as downregulation of BCL‐XL expression. Contrary to allicin, alliin promoted clonogenicity, induced senescence, and did not exhibit pro‐apoptotic effects in breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of garlic (Allium sativum L.) may vary among cultivars and, moreover, change over time, thereby affecting both biological activity and flavour. Thus, it is important to identify the trends in the content of bioactive compounds in garlic, by reliable analytical methods. This study was focused on the key sulfur-containing compounds, S-alk(en)yl-l-cysteine sulfoxides (alliin, isoalliin, methiin, propiin), which were quantified by a fast liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Several garlic cultivars were monitored repeatedly within seven months: one month before harvest maturity; at harvest maturity; and after two and six months of storage. The results showed not only a high variability among individual cultivars, but also among samples of the same cultivar grown at different localities. During storage, a significant increase in isoalliin content (up to 54-fold after six months) occurred. Nevertheless, none of the cultivars showed significantly different properties compared to others, suggesting that many other factors affect garlic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garlic is a valuable source material for medicines due to its known antitumor, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. This study compares the protective effects of conventionally grown (CG) and in vitro propagated garlic (PG) against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells and their antioxidant activity. Garlic used in this study was obtained by planting garlic cloves or by planting the transplants of PG directly in the field. At the end of the vegetation period, CG and PG were sampled and extracts prepared for the experiment. Compared to conventionally grown garlic bulbs, PG leafy part yielded significantly higher content of polyphenols, flavonoids and alliin, and also showed equal or higher antioxidant activity, measured by the cell viability test, GSH and ROS level. Moreover, PG can be produced in less time (shorter vegetation period) and with significantly less material (cloves). Significantly higher content of alliin, polyphenols, and flavonoids and significantly higher yield of plant biomass in PG has a great potential to become a new production model with improved garlic properties as a medicine material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Renal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a problematic process which leads to renal dysfunction and may be mortal for the patients in intensive care units. Increased oxidant molecules and decreased antioxidant molecules were detected in renal I/R-induced lung injury. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of Alliin on oxidative stress in renal I/R-induced lung injury. Material and Methods: A total of 32 Wistar Albino male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): Sham, I/R, I/R+Alliin 100 mg/kg and I/R+Alliin 200 mg/kg group. The effects of Alliin on oxidant and antioxidant molecules were evaluated via biochemical methods. Results: Alliin treatment increased antioxidant parameters and decreased oxidant parameters. Conclusion: Alliin has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and renal I/R-induced lung injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

S-Allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (ACSO) is an odour precursor in garlic bulbs. One plausible pathway for the biosynthesis of ACSO involves S−2-carboxypropyl glutathione produced from glutathione and methacrylic acid via valine or from γ-glutamyl cysteine. The elimination of glycine and glutamic acid from S−2-carboxypropyl glutathione produces S-2-carboxypropyl cysteine, which is converted to S-allyl cysteine by decarboxylation and oxidation. S-Allyl cysteine is also biosynthesized via the elimination of glutamic acid from γ-glutamyl S-allyl cysteine by γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. The sulfur oxidation of S-allyl cysteine by flavin-containing monooxygenase forms ACSO. When cells are damaged by slicing or grating, ACSO in the cytoplasm or cytoplasmic vesicle is immediately converted to allylsulfenic acid, pyruvic acid, and ammonia by alliinase (C-S lyase), which is located in the vacuoles of vascular bundle sheath cells. Two molecules of allylsulfenic acid form diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin), which exhibits potent antimicrobial activity. Allicin eventually yields garlic odour compounds, such as diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS). Although these sulfides are known to exert various physiological functions, their strong odour limits their use in foods. On the other hand, ACSO is water-soluble and odourless and enhances sweet, salty, and umami tastes, characteristics of which are desirable for food additives. Upon consumption, ACSO is primarily absorbed from the small intestine in the intact form, but is also partly decomposed to allylsulfenic acid, pyruvic acid and ammonia. Allylsulfenic acid is then further converted to DADS and diallyl monosulfide (DAS). ACSO has numerous in vivo functions, such as the prevention of diabetes, myocardial ischaemia, hepatic injury, platelet aggregation and blood ethanol elevation. Although some of these effects may be attributed to its metabolites, ACSO itself contributes to many of these physiological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of the garlic-derived amino acid, S-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide (ACSO), and ornithine or arginine on CCl4-induced hepatic injury was examined. After investigating the effectiveness of the mixture of ACSO and ornithine or arginine in preventing hepatic injury in vivo, an extract rich in ACSO and ornithine was prepared by converting arginine in garlic to ornithine by arginase from Hypsizygus marmoreus (buna-shimeji), after screening the productivity of ornithine among 12 kinds of mushrooms. Co-administration of ACSO with ornithine or arginine suppressed the increase in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and the decrease in glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome p450 2E1 activities after CCl4 injection more effectively than a single administration of ACSO. All extracts prepared from garlic and buna-shimeji with low and high contents of ACSO and arginine or ornithine significantly suppressed CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats. Considering that ACSO is tasteless, odourless, and enhances taste, and ornithine has a flat or sweet taste and masks bitterness, the extract rich in ACSO and ornithine from garlic and buna-shimeji could be considered a potential antioxidant food material that can be added to many kinds of food to prevent hepatic injury.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the arterial wall mediated by proinflammatory factor. Atherosclerosis cause heart disease and stroke is generally believed to be preventable. The single bulb garlic is one of the local plants known as the medicinal plant in Indonesia. Garlic contains alliin compounds as antiatherosclerotic agent. This study aimed to determine the potential of active compound of single bulb garlic as an antioxidant that improve endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide (NO) to increase vasodilation. The bioinformatics webserver used in this study are: Pubchem, Pharmmapper, Swiss Target Prediction, Superpred, Uniprot, and Protein Data Bank. Docking software using PyRx, PyMOL and Discovery Studio. Based on these steps, it was found that alliin interacts with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) through hydrogen and alkyl bonds. Alliin is effective as an inhibitor of NOS based on binding afinity (-5.4 kcal / mol) although no more negative than an aspirin inhibitor based on binding afinity (-6.5 kcal / mol). Based on the docking results, it is found that alliin is effective as a potential drug to decreased atherosclerosis.

Background: Allium sativum L. (Garlic) is a well-recognized plant of great nutraceutical value with pharmacological evidences. It is full of dietary as well as pharmaceutical properties and has been used in traditional medications for a long time. It is known for good antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral effects, along with other therapeutic roles in cardiovascular diseases, anti-atherosclerotic, antihypertensive, anti-thrombotic, blood pressure, bone and skin related problems etc. Objective: Considering the potential of garlic in the treatment of cardiovascular/heart-related diseases, the main objective of this study was to prepare a subject-centric mini-review focusing on its chemistry and pharmacology in heart-related issues., Methods: In order to prepare this mini-review article, an extensive online literature search was performed to find out the most recent studies related to this topic. These studies were briefly reviewed, assessed, and discussed to explore the possible capability of garlic for the cure of cardiovascular problems., Result: Several experiments on mice models, rat models as well as on humans show the effective role of various forms of garlic in cardiovascular or heart-related ailments. After reviewing the available publications on garlic in heart-related issues, authors found that garlic and its sulfur (S)-based organic constituents may have advantageous applications in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)