Catanzaro Elena, Canistro Donatella, Pellicioni Valentina, Vivarelli Fabio, Fimognari Carmela
Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Corso d'Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Pharmacol Res. 2022 Mar;177:106118. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106118. Epub 2022 Feb 5.
Phytochemicals have attracted attention in the oncological field because they are biologically friendly and have relevant pharmacological activities. Thanks to the intense and unique spicy aroma, garlic is one of the most used plants for cooking. Its consumption is correlated to health beneficial effects towards several chronic diseases, such as cancer, mainly attributable to allicin, a bioactive sulfur compound stored in different plant parts in a precursor form. The objective of this review is to present and critically discuss the chemistry and biosynthesis of allicin, its pharmacokinetic profile, its anticancer mechanisms and molecular targets, and its selectivity towards tumor cells. The research carried out so far revealed that allicin suppresses the growth of different types of tumors. In particular, it targets many signaling pathways associated with cancer development. Future research directions are also outlined to further characterize this promising natural product.
植物化学物质因其生物友好性和相关药理活性而在肿瘤学领域受到关注。由于其浓郁独特的辛辣香气，大蒜是烹饪中最常用的植物之一。食用大蒜与对多种慢性疾病（如癌症）的健康有益作用相关，这主要归因于大蒜素，一种以前体形式储存在不同植物部位的生物活性硫化合物。本综述的目的是介绍并批判性地讨论大蒜素的化学和生物合成、其药代动力学特征、抗癌机制和分子靶点，以及其对肿瘤细胞的选择性。迄今为止进行的研究表明，大蒜素可抑制不同类型肿瘤的生长。特别是，它针对许多与癌症发展相关的信号通路。还概述了未来的研究方向，以进一步表征这种有前景的天然产物。
