Abstract

Allicin, the main organic allyl sulfur component in garlic, exhibits immune‐stimulatory and antitumor properties. Allicin stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in mouse splenocytes and enhanced cell‐mediated cytotoxicity in human peripheral mononuclear cells. Multiple administration (i.p.) of allicin elicited a marked antitumor effect in mice inoculated with B‐16 melanoma and MCA‐105 fibrosarcoma. The immune‐stimulatory and antitumor effects of allicin are characterized by a bell‐shaped curve, i.e. allicin at high, supra‐optimal concentrations is less effective or inhibitory. Allicin induced activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in human peripheral mononuclear cells, and also in wild‐type Jurkat T‐cells. Allicin failed to activate ERK1/2 in Jurkat T cells that express p21ras, in which Cys118 was replaced by Ser. These cells are not susceptible to redox‐stress modification and activation. We postulate that the immune stimulatory effect of allicin is mediated by redox‐sensitive signaling such as activation of p21ras. It is suggested that the antitumor effect of allicin is related to its immune‐stimulatory properties.

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