• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.553-557
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• 2011

Garlic specific organic compounds were separated and purified using a recycling preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from blanched garlic cloves. Identification of the compounds involved comparing the previously reported HPLC retention times as well as other identification methods including $^1H$- and $^{13}C$-nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The yields of garlic specific organic compounds were 12.2, 42.5, 1.6, 1.2, and 4.8% on wet weight basis of garlic for alliin(S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide), isoalliin(S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl-S-allylcysteine, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl-S-1-propenylcysteine and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl-phenylalanine, respectively. All the compounds, except for ${\gamma}$-glutamylphenylalanine, contained sulfur.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2015

S-allylcysteine (SAC) is an aged garlic derived water soluble organosulfur compound and has been suggested to have anticarcinogenic activity against diverse types of cancer cells. This review summarizes the cellular signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms whereby SAC exerts its effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and metastasis based on the results from both in vitro and in vivo studies. SAC activates proapoptotic proteins including Bax and caspase-3, but suppresses antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins to bring about cancer cell death through mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway. SAC also inhibits cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in which SAC reduces expression and activation of NF-κB, cyclins, Cdks, PCNA and c-Jun, but elevates expression of cell cycle inhibitor proteins p16 and p21 through suppression of both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. And, SAC inhibits invasion and metastasis of cancer cells by inducing suppression of both angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through decreased cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and increased E-cadherin expression which were then caused by suppression of inhibitory transcription factors Id-1 and SLUG from SAC-mediated inactivation of both MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, SAC prevents toxic compound-induced carcinogenesis by inducing antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione-s-transferase (GST). Thus, SAC can be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2017

Our previous study suggested that S-allylcysteine (SAC) inhibits the proliferation of the human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa, at least in part through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. To further analyze the specific molecular mechanism(s) by which SAC mediates its antiproliferative effects, this study examined the role of SAC in regulating the protein expression of initiator caspase (caspase-9), effector caspases (caspase-3 and caspase-7), and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) in HeLa. Western blot analysis showed that when cells were treated with 50 mM SAC for 48 hr, the expression of procaspase-3, -7, and -9 and PARP was reduced by 94%, 38%, 95%, and 64%, respectively, as compared to the untreated control. In contrast, the expression of caspase-3, -7, and -9 and cleaved-PARP was markedly increased by SAC treatment. The SAC-mediated changes in the expression of these proteins were correlated with the concomitant inhibition of cellular proliferation by SAC. The cell proliferation assay showed that HeLa treatment with more than 20 mM SAC for 6-48 hr resulted in both concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation. These results indicate that the SAC-induced antiproliferative effect in HeLa may be mediated at least in part through the activation of caspase-9, followed by the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 as well as the inactivation of PARP, thus leading to cellular apoptosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2015

S-allylcysteine (SAC) is a water-soluble organosulfur compound abundant in the aged garlic extract and has been drawing attention as a diet-derived alternative agent not only for the effects of anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation but also for the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer. However, there is no report about the anticancer effects of SAC on cervical cancer cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the inhibitory effects of SAC on cell proliferation of cervical cancer cell line, HeLa and to examine its effects on the apoptosis and cell cycle as the cellular mechanisms of anti-proliferation. For this, we examined effects of different concentrations of SAC on cell proliferation according to treatment periods. Treatment with SAC not only induced morphological changes but also resulted in the reduction of cell viability and the inhibition of concentration- and time-dependant cell proliferation of HeLa. Furthermore, SAC also induced fragmentation of DNA in both DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assays, and induced cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase in cell cycle analysis. These results suggest that SAC inhibits proliferation of HeLa at least in part through the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle arrest.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.138-146
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• 2009

Garlic (Allium sativum) are an agronomically important genus because of their sulfur flavour components. The majority of the volatiles flavour principles are generated through the enzymatic hydrolysis of the non-volatile organosulfur compounds. However, these compounds may be possible sources of new novel bioacuve and therapeutic principles. Garlic has strong antioxidant activity, and epidemiological studies support the fad that diets rich of garlic may prevent some of the chronic diseases. The health cares of garlic likely arise from a wide variety of components, which may work synergistically. The chemical changes of garlic composition makes it plausible that a variation in processing can lead to acquisition of differential chemical compositions of garlic products. Especially highly unstable allicin can easily disappear during processing and are quickly transformed into a various organosulfur compounds. Various supplements of garlic, particularly aged garlic extract (AGE), are known to possess a promising antioxidant potential and are effective in prevention of chronic diseases because of the bioactive constituents. Although all of active ingredients of AGE are not elucidated, water-soluble components of AGE, including S-allylcysteine, S-allylmercaptane, steroid saponins, tetrahydro-${\beta}$-carboline derivatives, and fructosyl-arginine, appears to be associated with the pharmacological effects of AGE. Consequently, the allicin free garlic components such as S-allylcysteine, S-allylmercaptane, steroid saponins, tetrahydro-${\beta}$-carboline derivatives, and fructosyl-arginine can be applicable to standardization of the quality of commercial garlic products. This review provides an insight into garlic's biomarkers and presents evidence that they may either prevent or delay chronic disease associated with aging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1412-1423
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• 1999

This review contains a discussion of the physiological activity of the components of Allium vegetables. Organosulfur compounds in Allium vegetables, such as ajoene, diallyl sulfides and S allylcysteine, have cancer preventive activity in chemically induced animal cancer models. They also have inhibitory effects on proliferation of cancer cells in vitro. Allium vegetables have lipid and cholesterol lowering effect, and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity that help the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Sulfur con taining compounds, especially allicin and ajoene, have antimicrobial activities against gram negative, positive bacteria and fungi. Moreover, Allium organosulfur compounds such as S allylcysteine showed reducing effects on the senescence related symptoms including cognition. Allium organosulfur compounds have significant importance in food industry as both biologically active ingredients and savory.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2015

Purpose: Past studies have reported that S-allylcysteine (SAC) inhibits the migration and invasion of cancer cells through the restoration of E-cadherin, the reduction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and Slug protein expression, and inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, evidence is emerging that shows that ROS induced by radiation could increase Met activation. Following on these reports of SAC and Met, we investigated whether SAC could suppress Met activation. Materials and Methods: Wound healing, invasion, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT), soft agar colony forming, western blotting, and gelatin zymography assays were performed in the human nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines HNE1 and HONE1 treated with SAC (0, 10, 20, or 40 mM) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Results: This study showed that SAC could suppress the migration and invasion of HNE1 and HONE1 cell lines by inhibiting p-Met. An increase of migration and invasion induced by HGF and its decrease in a dose dependent manner by SAC in wound healing and invasion assays was observed. The reduction of p-Met by SAC was positively correlated with p-focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) and p-extracellular related kinase (p-ERK in both cell lines). SAC reduced Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 involved in migration and invasion with the inhibition of Met-FAK signaling. Conclusion: These results suggest that SAC inhibited not only Met activation but also the downstream FAK, Slug, and MMP expression. Finally, SAC may be a potent anticancer compound for nasopharyngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.884-892
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the increase of S-allylcysteine content, a biomarker of black garlic, during its aging period, as well as the serum lipid-lowering effects of black garlic extract in high fat diet fed rats. The highest content of S-allylcysteine was observed on the 15th day of the aging period. Sensory evaluation was also estimated to be extremely good on the 15th day of the aging period. High fat diet rats with induced hyperlipidemia were fed diets containing black garlic extract of low, medium, and high doses for 6 weeks. No significant difference in body weight gain and food efficiency was observed between normal, placebo and black garlic fed groups. Liver weight was significantly higher in black garlic fed groups than in the normal group. Total serum cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly lower in low, medium, and high dose groups than in the normal group. Also, HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher and LDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in black garlic diet fed groups than in the normal group. Hepatic levels including total lipid and cholesterol were especially decreased in the black garlic diet fed group than in the placebo group. These results suggest that black garlic intake reduces the levels of serum and hepatic cholesterol in high fat diet fed rats. In conclusion, black garlic has a potential to be used as a functional health food ingredient with beneficial effects on lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6379-6384
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• 2013

S-benzyl-cysteine (SBC) is a structural analog of S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is one of the major water-soluble compounds in aged garlic extract. In this study, anticancer activities and the underlying mechanisms of SBC action were investigated and compared these with those of SAC using human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. SBC significantly suppressed the survival rate of SGC-7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the inhibitory activities of SBC were stronger than those of SAC. Flow cytometry revealed that SBC induced G2-phase arrest and apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells. Typical apoptotic morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 dye assay. SBC-treatment dramatically induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$), and enhanced the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 whilst hardly affecting caspase-8 activity. Furthermore, Western blotting indicated that SBC-induced apoptosis was accompanied by up-regulation of the expression of p53, Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggested that SBC exerts cytotoxic activity involving activation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis through p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 pathways in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.313-319
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• 2009

To improve the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells(hMSCs) under general cell culture conditions(20% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$), we examined the effect of s-allylcysteine(SAC), which is known as an antioxidant and the main component of aged-garlic extract, on hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular stress in hMSCs. We found that SAC blocked hydrogen peroxideinduced cell death and cellular apoptosis, but that SAC did not improve the growth of hMSCs during short-term culture. To evaluate the protective effect of SAC, we examined the endogenous expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione peroxidase(Gpx) in hMSCs. Hydrogen peroxide was found to downregulate the expression of CAT, SOD, and Gpx at the protein level. However, in the pre-treatment group of SAC, SAC inhibited the hydrogen peroxide-induced down-regulation of CAT, SOD, and Gpx. Unfortunately, treatment with SAC alone did not induce the up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and the cell proliferation of hMSCs. Surprisingly, SAC improved cell growth in a single cell level culture of hMSCs. These results indicate that SAC may be involved in the preservation of the self-renewal capacity of hMSCs. Taken together, SAC improves the proliferation of hMSCs via inhibition of oxidative-stress-induced cell apoptosis through regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In conclusion, SAC may be an indispensable component in an in vitro culture system of human MSCs for maintaining self-renewal and multipotent characterization of human MSCs.