Abstract
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries as a prophylactic and therapeutic medicinal agent. Importantly, garlic has been suggested to have both cancer-preventive potential as well as significant enhancing effects on the immune system. While these observations are supported experimentally both in vitro and in vivo, the impact of garlic in assisting the immune system in the prevention of cancer still lacks experimental confirmation. Studies addressing the immunomodulatory effects of garlic reveal conflicting data as to pro- or anti-inflammatory responses depending on the particular experimental set-ups and the garlic preparation used (i.e. garlic extract versus chemically pure garlic compounds). Here we provide an overview of the chemistry of the major garlic organosulfur compounds, summarize the current understanding and propose a link between the immunomodulating activity of garlic and the prevention of cancer. We hypothesize that garlic rather elicits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative responses that aid in priming the organism towards eradication of an emerging tumor.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cancer prevention, disulfide, garlic, immunomodulatory.
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:The Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Organosulfur Compounds in Cancer Chemoprevention
Volume: 14 Issue: 2
Author(s): Georgia Schäfer and Catherine H. Kaschula
Affiliation:
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cancer prevention, disulfide, garlic, immunomodulatory.
Abstract: Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for centuries as a prophylactic and therapeutic medicinal agent. Importantly, garlic has been suggested to have both cancer-preventive potential as well as significant enhancing effects on the immune system. While these observations are supported experimentally both in vitro and in vivo, the impact of garlic in assisting the immune system in the prevention of cancer still lacks experimental confirmation. Studies addressing the immunomodulatory effects of garlic reveal conflicting data as to pro- or anti-inflammatory responses depending on the particular experimental set-ups and the garlic preparation used (i.e. garlic extract versus chemically pure garlic compounds). Here we provide an overview of the chemistry of the major garlic organosulfur compounds, summarize the current understanding and propose a link between the immunomodulating activity of garlic and the prevention of cancer. We hypothesize that garlic rather elicits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative responses that aid in priming the organism towards eradication of an emerging tumor.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Schäfer Georgia and Kaschula H. Catherine, The Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Organosulfur Compounds in Cancer Chemoprevention, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2014; 14 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/18715206113136660370
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/18715206113136660370 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Discovery of Lead compounds targeting transcriptional regulation
Transcriptional regulation plays key physiological functions in body growth and development. Transcriptional dysregulation is one of important biomarkers of tumor genesis and progression, which is involved in regulating tumor cell processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Additionally, it plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis and promotes tumor metastasis ...read more
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Innovative targets in medicinal chemistry
Medicinal chemistry continuously evolves in response to emerging healthcare needs and advancements in scientific understanding. This special issue explores the current landscape of innovative targets in medicinal chemistry, highlighting the quest for novel therapeutic avenues. From traditional drug targets such as enzymes and receptors to emerging targets like protein-protein interactions ...read more
Rechallenge Therapy in different types of cancer
Cancer is responsible for approximately 8 million deaths annually all worldwide. The Global burden of cancer (GLOBOCAN) 2020 reported 19.3 million new cases of cancer, which is projected to increase to 28.4 million by 2040.In the future , female breast cancer will be the most common cancer (11.7%) followed by ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Chromatin Structure and Epigenetics of Tumour Cells: A Review
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Progress in Research of K<sub>V</sub>1.1 and K<sub>V</sub>1.3 Channels as Therapeutic Targets
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Radiopharmaceutical Tracking of Particles Injected into Tumors: A Model to Study Clearance Kinetics
Current Drug Delivery Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Cancer: Stress or Viral Etiology?
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Sphingolipid Signaling and Hematopoietic Malignancies: To the Rheostat and Beyond
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacology of TRP Channels in the Vasculature
Current Vascular Pharmacology Dehydroepiandrosterone and Its Derivatives: Potentially Novel Anti-Proliferative and Chemopreventive Agents
Current Pharmaceutical Design Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Liver Imaging: Recent Advances
Current Pharmaceutical Design Health Benefits of Honey: Implications for Treating Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Nutrition & Food Science The Significance of Transferrin Receptors in Oncology: the Development of Functional Nano-based Drug Delivery Systems
Current Drug Delivery Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Clinical Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Drugs (Discontinued) Mitochondria and Familial Predisposition to Breast Cancer
Current Genomics Pharmaceutical Strategies Enhancing Cell Penetration Efficiencies of Non-Viral Gene Delivery Systems
Current Gene Therapy H3K4 Methylation Status and Lysine Specific Methyltransferase KMT2C Expression Correlate with Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Current Molecular Pharmacology 10 Years of SELDI: What Have we Learnt?
Current Proteomics NOTCH Signaling as a Novel Cancer Therapeutic Target
Current Cancer Drug Targets HSP60 as a Drug Target
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Recognition at Purine and Pyrimidine Nucleotide (P2) Receptors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Long Non-Coding RNAs As Epigenetic Regulators in Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pharmacotherapy for Obesity
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery