Organo-Sulphur Garlic Compounds Influence Viability of Mammalian Cells: A Review

Abstract Garlic is still in the centre of interest for its therapeutic effects. Currently, attention is focused on physiological effects of organo-sulphur garlic compounds, as alliin, allicin, diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), and S-allyl cysteine (SAC), particularly on their antioxidant and anticancerogenic effects. SAC has been studied for its ability to decrease the production of reactive oxygen species by modulation of the cell glutathione level together with antioxidative enzyme activity, and by improvement of mitochondrial functions. The main mechanism of DAS, DADS, and DATS is the induction of the internal apoptotic pathway. Garlic compounds have the ability to interfere with the signalling pathways of small gaseous signalling molecules known as gasotransmitters – nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The review presents the effect of garlic compounds on cellular oxidative stress, intrinsic apoptotic and gasotransmitter pathways and compares their effects on tumour and normal mammalian cells.