Allicin

Allicin (A424615, A303933) is a sulfur-containing organic compound found in garlic. Like other sulfur-containing compounds, allicin exhibits various biological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anticancer properties.

Figure 1. Chemical structure of allicin

Allicin inhibits surface adhesion and virulence factor production of Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and downregulates the expression and secretion of 85B mRNA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected monocytes. This effect may be related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which increase glutathione and IFN-γ levels while decreasing TNF-α levels.

Allicin also suppresses the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NADPH oxidase activity induced by angiotensin II or pressure overload in animal models, thereby protecting cardiac function and preventing myocardial hypertrophy. Clinically, it reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Allicin exhibits anticancer and chemopreventive effects in various cellular and animal models by inhibiting the PI3K/mTOR pathway and inducing p53-mediated autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma. It also suppresses glioma cell growth by modulating the MAPK/ERK pathway and regulating Bcl-2/Bax levels.

References

1. Arzanlou M, Bohlooli S. J Med Microbiol. 2010 Sep;59(Pt 9):1044-9.

2. Lihua L, Jianhuit W, Jialini Y, et al. Pol J Microbiol. 2013;62(3):243-51.

3. Liu C, Cao F, Tang QZ, et al. J Nutr Biochem. 2010 Dec;21(12):1238-50.

4. Chu YL, Ho CT, Chung JG, et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Aug 29;60(34):8363-71.

5. Cha JH, Choi YJ, Cha SH, et al. Oncol Rep. 2012 Jul;28(1):41-8.

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