Allium
vegetables and organosulfur compounds: do they
help prevent cancer? - Reviews
Environmental
Health Perspectives, Sept, 2001 by FrancaBianchini,
HarriVainio
Allium vegetables have been shown to have
beneficial effects against several diseases, including cancer. Garlic,
onions, leeks, and chives have been reported to protect against stomach and
colorectal cancers, although evidence for a protective effect against
cancer at other sites, including the breast, is still insufficient. The
protective effect appears to be related to the presence of organosulfur compounds and mainly alkyl derivatives,
which inhibit carcinogenesis in the forestomach,
esophagus, colon, mammary gland, and lung of experimental animals. The
exact mechanisms of the cancer-preventive effects are not dear, although
several hypotheses have been proposed. Organosulfur
compounds modulate the activity of several metabolizing enzymes that
activate (cytochrome P450s) or detoxify
(glutathione S-transferases) carcinogens and
inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in several target tissues. Antiproliferative activity has been described in
several tumor cell lines, which is possibly mediated by induction of
apoptosis and alterations of the cell cycle. Allium
vegetables and organosulfur compounds are thus
possible cancer-preventive agents. Clinical trials will be required to
define the effective dose that has no toxicity in humans. Key words: Allium, cancer prevention, chemoprevention, garlic, organosulfur compounds, vegetables. Environ Health Perspect 109:893-902 (2001). [Online 16 August 2001]
Organosulfur Compounds as ChemDefense
Agents - Mustard
http://www.stormingmedia.us/04/0479/A047904.html
Abstract:Organosulfur compounds have demonstrated
protective activity against sulfur mustard (HD), bis(2-chloroethyl)
sulfide. Twenty three compounds, many representing new compositions of
matter, have been prepared in the first half of this program. These include
derivatives of thiavitamin E, glutathione, thiacholesterol, pyridine and benzothiazole.
The program has expanded the ability to prepare unsymmetric
disulfides of interest and the utility of 2- mercaptobenzothiazole
and alkoxycarbonylsulfenyl chlorides in this
program. These compounds, largely based upon monothiols,
form the platform upon which to develop targets related to BAL and related
systems. We currently are awaiting details of bioassay studies.