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Chemical properties and mechanisms determining the anti-cancer action of garlic-derived organic sulfur compounds.
- Source :
-
Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry [Anticancer Agents Med Chem] 2011 Mar; Vol. 11 (3), pp. 267-71. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Organic sulfur compounds (OSCs) derived from plants, fungi or bacteria can serve as chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agents and have been attracting medical and research interest as a promising source for novel anti-cancer agents. Garlic, which has long been used as a medicinal plant in different cultures due to its multiple beneficial effects, contains a consistent number of OSCs, the majority of which are currently under investigation for their biological activities. Experimental animal and laboratory studies have shown strong evidence that garlic OSCs may affect cancer cells by promoting early mitotic arrest followed by apoptotic cell death without affecting healthy cells. The ability of OSCs to hinder cancer cell proliferation and viability tightly correlates with the length of the sulfur chain. Current data support a mechanism of mitotic arrest of cancer cells due to the alteration of the microtubule network, possibly as a consequence of the high reactivity of sulfur atoms against the thiol groups of different cellular macromolecules controlling crucial regulatory functions. Taken together, these findings indicate a promising potential for the use of garlic-derived sulfur compounds in chemoprevention and chemotherapy.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Anticarcinogenic Agents therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use
Apoptosis drug effects
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation drug effects
Chemoprevention methods
Female
Humans
Male
Mice
Microtubules drug effects
Mitosis drug effects
Neoplasms prevention & control
Plant Extracts chemistry
Plants, Medicinal chemistry
Structure-Activity Relationship
Sulfur chemistry
Sulfur pharmacology
Sulfur Compounds chemistry
Sulfur Compounds therapeutic use
Anticarcinogenic Agents pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Garlic chemistry
Neoplasms drug therapy
Sulfur Compounds pharmacology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1875-5992
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21269260
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2174/187152011795347522