Iciek Małgorzata, Kwiecień Inga, Włodek Lidia
Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2009 Apr;50(3):247-65. doi: 10.1002/em.20474.
Medicinal properties of garlic (Allium sativum) have been widely known and used since ancient times till the present. Garlic enhances immune functions and has antibacterial, antifungal and antivirus activities. It is known to prevent platelet aggregation, and to have hypotensive and cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering properties, although the latter features have been questioned. This review is focused on anticancer efficacy of Allium sativum, and attempts to explain the mechanisms of this action. Medicinal properties of garlic rely upon organosulfur compounds mostly derived from alliin. Organosulfur compounds originating from garlic inhibit carcinogen activation, boost phase 2 detoxifying processes, cause cell cycle arrest mostly in G2/M phase, stimulate the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, increase acetylation of histones. Garlic-derived sulfur compounds influence also gap-junctional intercellular communication and participate in the development of multidrug resistance. This review presents also other little known aspects of molecular action of garlic-derived compounds, like modulation of cellular redox state, involvement in signal transduction and post-translational modification of proteins by sulfane sulfur or by formation of mixed disulfides (S-thiolation reactions).
大蒜（葱属植物蒜）的药用特性自古以来便广为人知且沿用至今。大蒜可增强免疫功能，具有抗菌、抗真菌和抗病毒活性。已知其能防止血小板聚集，还具有降血压以及降低胆固醇和甘油三酯的特性，不过后者的这些特性一直存在争议。本综述聚焦于大蒜的抗癌功效，并试图解释其作用机制。大蒜的药用特性主要依赖于大多源自蒜氨酸的有机硫化合物。源自大蒜的有机硫化合物可抑制致癌物活化，促进二期解毒过程，使细胞周期大多停滞在G2/M期，刺激线粒体凋亡途径，增加组蛋白乙酰化。大蒜衍生的硫化合物还会影响间隙连接细胞间通讯，并参与多药耐药性的发展。本综述还介绍了大蒜衍生化合物分子作用的其他鲜为人知的方面，如调节细胞氧化还原状态、参与信号转导以及通过次磺酸硫或形成混合二硫键（S-巯基化反应）对蛋白质进行翻译后修饰。
