s-allylcysteine and Body-Weight

Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal control diet, a high cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol) diet (HCD) only, or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.5% high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic (HCP) or raw garlic (HCR) for 10 weeks. The body weights of the rats fed the garlic-supplemented diets decreased, mostly because of reduced fat pad weights. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) in the HCP and HCR groups decreased significantly compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, fecal TC and TG increased significantly in the HCP and HCR groups. It is notable that no significant differences in plasma or fecal lipid profiles were observed between the HCP and HCR groups. High temperature/high pressure-processed garlic contained a higher amount of S-allyl cysteine than raw garlic (P<.05). The results suggest that high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic may be useful as a functional food to improve lipid profiles.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, Dietary; Cholesterol, LDL; Cysteine; Diet, High-Fat; Dietary Supplements; Feces; Functional Food; Garlic; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipids; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Plant Roots; Pressure; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Temperature; Triglycerides

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of fresh garlic homogenate (FGH) and its bioactive sulphur compound S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide (SACS) in potentiating antihypertensive and cardioprotective activities of captopril in rats. SACS was extracted from the fresh garlic using ion exchange resins with yield of 890 mg/kg garlic. The dose of SACS was calculated based on the amount of SACS extracted from 125 to 250 mg of FGH. Albino rats weighing 150-200 g were fed with 10% fructose in fluid for 3 weeks for induction of hypertension and subsequently administered FGH (125 and 250 mg/kg, p.o.) or SACS (0.111 and 0.222 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for the next 3 weeks in their respective groups. In CAP alone and interactive groups (GH+CAP; SACS+CAP), captopril 30 mg/kg was given during sixth week of 10% fructose in fluid. At the end of drug treatment, animals were given isoproterenol 175 mg/kg subcutaneously for two consecutive days. Additionally, varying concentrations of SACS (4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 ng), CAP (1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 ng) and their combination (4:1) were checked for fall in blood pressure in hypertensive rats (10% fructose in fluid without pretreatment) as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting activity using guinea pig ileum. An isobolographic analysis was used to characterise the interaction between SACS and CAP for fall in blood pressure and ACE inhibiting evaluations. Administration of captopril, low and high doses of FGH (125, 250 mg/kg), either alone or together showed fall in fluid intake and body weight. The combined therapy of FGH 250 mg/kg and CAP was more effective in reducing systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. The SOD and catalase activities in heart tissue were significantly elevated in groups treated with FGH, SACS, CAP, FGH+CAP and SACS+CAP. Further, combined therapy of FGH 250 mg/kg and CAP caused significant fall in LDH and CK-MB activities in serum and elevation in heart tissue homogenate. SACS in low dose was less effective than low dose of FGH; similarly, high dose of FGH was more efficacious than high dose of SACS. Corroborating with this, combined therapy of garlic (250 mg/kg) with CAP demonstrated higher synergistic action than combination of SACS (0.222 mg/kg) with CAP suggesting the role of additional bioactive constituents apart from SACS, responsible for therapeutic efficacy of garlic. Moreover, combination of SACS and CAP exerted super-additive (synergistic) interaction wi

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Antioxidants; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Body Weight; Captopril; Creatine Kinase; Cysteine; Drinking; Drug Synergism; Female; Garlic; Guinea Pigs; Heart; Hypertension; Ileum; Isoproterenol; Lipids; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Excitotoxicity elicited by overactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors is a well-known characteristic of quinolinic acid-induced neurotoxicity. However, since many experimental evidences suggest that the actions of quinolinic acid also involve reactive oxygen species formation and oxidative stress as major features of its pattern of toxicity, the use of antioxidants as experimental tools against the deleterious effects evoked by this neurotoxin becomes more relevant. In this work, we investigated the effect of a garlic-derived compound and well-characterized free radical scavenger, S-allylcysteine, on quinolinic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity and oxidative damage. For this purpose, rats were administered S-allylcysteine (150, 300 or 450 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before a single striatal infusion of 1 microl of quinolinic acid (240 nmol). The lower dose (150 mg/kg) of S-allylcysteine resulted effective to prevent only the quinolinate-induced lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05), whereas the systemic administration of 300 mg/kg of this compound to rats decreased effectively the quinolinic acid-induced oxidative injury measured as striatal reactive oxygen species formation (P < 0.01) and lipid peroxidation (P < 0.05). S-Allylcysteine (300 mg/kg) also prevented the striatal decrease of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05) produced by quinolinate. In addition, S-allylcysteine, at the same dose tested, was able to reduce the quinolinic acid-induced neurotoxicity evaluated as circling behavior (P < 0.01) and striatal morphologic alterations. In summary, S-allylcysteine ameliorates the in vivo quinolinate striatal toxicity by a mechanism related to its ability to: (a) scavenge free radicals; (b) decrease oxidative stress; and (c) preserve the striatal activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD). This antioxidant effect seems to be responsible for the preservation of the morphological and functional integrity of the striatum.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Behavior, Animal; Blotting, Western; Body Weight; Cysteine; Garlic; Glutathione Peroxidase; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Neostriatum; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Oxidative Stress; Quinolinic Acid; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Superoxide Dismutase

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a major complication of gentamicin (GM) treatment, which is effective against gram-negative infections. Since experimental evidence suggests a role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in GM-induced ARF, in this work we studied the effect of a garlic-derived compound, S-allylcysteine (SAC), which is a free radical scavenger, on GM-induced nephrotoxicity. In rats treated with GM (70 mg/kg/12 h/4 days/s.c.), ARF was evident by the: (i) decrease in creatinine clearance and increase in blood urea nitrogen, (ii) decrease in blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and increase in urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and total protein, and (iii) necrosis of proximal tubular cells. These alterations were prevented by SAC treatment (250 mg/kg/i.p. 24 h before the first dose of GM and 125 mg/kg/12 h/4 days along GM-treatment). Furthermore, SAC prevented the GM-induced oxidative stress (protein carbonyl groups) and the decrease in manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), GPx, and glutathione reductase (GR) activities in renal cortex. In conclusion, SAC ameliorates the GM-induced ARF by a mechanism related, at least in part, to its ability to decrease oxidative stress and to preserve antioxidant enzymes activity in renal cortex.

Topics: Acetylglucosaminidase; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Body Weight; Cysteine; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Garlic; Gentamicins; Glutathione Peroxidase; Kidney; Kidney Cortex; Kidney Tubules; Male; Necrosis; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species; Time Factors

This study examined the effect of S:-allylcysteine (SAC), a major thioallyl compound found in aged garlic extract, on the memory deficit and age-related changes of senescence-accelerated mice. Senescence-accelerated prone P8 mice fed a diet supplemented with 40 mg SAC/kg diet for 8 mo had a significantly attenuated decrease in the conditioned avoidance response compared with those not given SAC. In the elevated plus-maze test using senescence-accelerated prone P10 mice, the percentage of time spent on the open arm was greater compared with the senescence-resistant control mice. Chronic dietary treatment with 40 mg SAC/kg diet decreased the time in the open arm in senescence-accelerated prone P10 mice. These studies suggest that diet supplementation with SAC may reduce age-related learning disabilities and cognitive disorders in senescence-accelerated mice.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Body Weight; Cysteine; Garlic; Male; Maze Learning; Memory Disorders; Mice; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal

The present studies assessed the impact of various sources of garlic and their constituents (water- and ethanol-extracts and S-allylcysteine) on the in vivo binding of the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to rat mammary cell DNA. The provision of dietary raw garlic powder (2%) or its water-extract (1.5%) reduced DMBA-DNA binding by 33 and 46% respectively. Dietary supplementation with a commercially available deodorized garlic powder (powder A) at 2 or 4% depressed the occurrence of adducts by 50 and 78% respectively, while providing a commercially available high sulfur garlic preparation (powder B) at 2% reduced binding by 56%. A pair-feeding study revealed that the depression in carcinogen binding was independent of food intake or weight gain. Although 1% raw garlic powder did not significantly influence the occurrence of DMBA-DNA adducts, an equivalent as the water-extract (0.75%), the ethanol-extract (0.015%) or commercially available powders (A and B) reduced DMBA adducts in mammary tissue by 44, 25, 71 and 65% respectively. Dietary fortification with S-allylcysteine (SAC), a water-soluble constituent of processed garlic, caused a progressive decrease in the binding of DMBA to DNA. Studies with SAC suggest the primary effect of garlic and its constituents is on the bioactivation and binding of the carcinogen rather than DNA repair. These data reveal that several forms of garlic are effective, although variable, in altering carcinogen bioactivation and presumably chemically induced carcinogenesis.

Topics: 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; Animals; Body Weight; Cysteine; DNA; DNA Adducts; DNA Damage; Eating; Female; Garlic; Mammary Glands, Animal; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sulfur

Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) present in garlic and onion oil have been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis. In this study, we compared the chemopreventive efficacy of five lipid- and four water-soluble OSCs using the murine nuclear aberration assay. Administration of diallyl sulfide and S-allyl cysteine p.o. at a dose of 200 mg/kg 3 h prior to i.p. 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) injection (20 mg/kg) significantly inhibited colonic nuclear damage in female C57Bl/6J mice by 47% and 36%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of S-allyl cysteine was found to be dose dependent. The other OSCs did not affect the level of DMH-induced nuclear toxicity. Furthermore, the incidence and frequency of colonic tumors induced by DMH (20 mg/kg, 10 weekly i.p. injections) in female CF-1 mice were significantly inhibited by S-allyl cysteine pretreatment, given 3 h prior to each carcinogen injection. These data indicate that the allyl group coupled to a single sulfur atom might play an important structural role in inhibition of DMH-induced colonic nuclear toxicity and carcinogenesis. OSCs containing allyl groups stimulated glutathione S-transferase activity in both the liver and colon. However, their saturated analogues stimulated little or no hepatic and colonic glutathione S-transferase activity. Induction of hepatic and colonic glutathione S-transferase might assist in detoxification of carcinogens and could be necessary for some aspects of chemoprevention.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Colonic Neoplasms; Cysteine; Dimethylhydrazines; Disulfides; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Structure-Activity Relationship; Sulfides