Effect of diallyl sulfide on MNNG-induced nuclear aberrations and ornithine decarboxylase activity in the glandular stomach mucosa of the Wistar rat.

In previous investigations using models for gastrointestinal cancer, the anticarcinogenic effects of diallyl sulfide (DAS), an organosulfur compound present in garlic, was established. In this study, we conducted experiments to determine whether DAS modulates two biomarkers, nuclear aberrations (NA) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, in the glandular stomach mucosa of the Wistar rat. N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MN-NG) induced dose-related NA and ODC activity in the glandular stomach 24 h and 6 h, respectively, after oral intubation with the carcinogen. Either oral or parenteral pretreatment with DAS significantly reduced the MNNG induction of NA or ODC. Furthermore, the suppressions were observed to be dose dependent. These data suggest that DAS may potentially inhibit MNNG-induced gastric cancer. In view of recent epidemiologic evidence linking reduced risk for gastric cancer with increased consumption of allium vegetables, it is clear that DAS has pluripotent effects as an anticarcinogen, although studies addressing a mechanism of action have yet to be reported.