Garlic and garlic extracts, through their antioxidant activities, have been reported to provide protection against free radical damage in the body. This study investigated antioxidant properties of garlic compounds representing the four main chemical classes, alliin, allyl cysteine, allyl disulfide, and allicin, prepared by chemical synthesis or purification. Alliin scavenged superoxide, while allyl cysteine and allyl disulfide did not react with superoxide. Allicin suppressed the formation of superoxide by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, probably via a thiol exchange mechanism. Alliin, allyl cysteine, and allyl disulfide all scavenged hydroxyl radicals; the rate constants calculated based on deoxyribose competitive assay were 1.4-1.7 x 10(10), 2.1-2.2 x 10(9), and 0.7-1.5 x 10(10) M (1) second(1), respectively. Contrary to previous reports, allicin did not exhibit hydroxyl radical scavenging activity in this study. Alliin, allicin, and allyl cysteine did not prevent induced microsomal lipid peroxidation, but both alliin and allyl cysteine were hydroxyl scavengers, and allyl disulfide was a lipid peroxidation terminator. In summary, our findings indicated that allyl disulfide, alliin, allicin, and allyl cysteine exhibit different patterns of antioxidant activities as protective compounds against free radical damage.
Molybdenum cofactor deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with devastating neurological manifestations, characterised by neonatal-onset encephalopathy mimicking hypoxic-ischaemic insult, intractable seizure, and feeding and respiratory difficulties. It is often fatal in the early life. We report an affected 8-year-old boy, who presented with severe neurological manifestations since birth, but without clinically-significant seizure. Molybdenum cofactor deficiency must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with unexplained encephalopathy in the newborn period, and whose neuroimaging findings are consistent with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. The classic laboratory hallmark of this disorder is low serum uric acid, positive urine sulphite dipstick test, and elevated urinary S-sulphocysteine, hypoxanthine and xanthine.
S-Allylcysteine (SAC) is an extensively studied natural product which has been proven to confer cardioprotection. This potentiates SAC into many clinical relevance possibilities, hence, the use of it ought to be optimally elucidated. To further confirm this, an ischemia/reperfusion model has been used to determine SAC at 10 mM and 50 mM on cardiac function, cardiac marker, and mitochondrial permeability. Using Langendorff setup, 24 adult male Wistar rats' hearts were isolated to be perfused with Kreb-Henseleit buffer throughout the ischemia/reperfusion method. After 20 min of stabilization, global ischemia was induced by turning off the perfusion for 35 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion with either Kreb-Henseleit buffer or SAC with the dose of 10 mM or 50 mM. The cardiac function was assessed and coronary effluent was collected at different timepoints throughout the experiment for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement. The harvested hearts were then used to measure glutathione while isolated mitochondria for mPTP analysis. SAC-reperfused hearts were shown to prevent the aggravation of cardiac function after I/R induction. It also dose-dependently upregulated glutathione reductase and glutathione level and these were also accompanied by significant reduction of LDH leakage and preserved mitochondrial permeability. Altogether, SAC dose-dependently was able to recover the post-ischemic cardiac function deterioration alongside with improvement of glutathione metabolism and mitochondrial preservation. These findings highly suggest that SAC when sufficiently supplied to the heart would be able to prevent the deleterious complications after the ischemic insult.
Allium sativum (garlic) is widely known and is consumed as a natural prophylactic worldwide. It produces more than 200 identified chemical compounds, with more than 20 different kinds of sulfide compounds. The sulfide compounds particularly are proven to contribute to its various biological roles and pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, hypoglycemic, antitumour, and hypolipidemic. Therefore, it is often referred as disease-preventive food. Sulphur-containing compounds from A. sativum are derivatives of S-alkenyl-l-cysteine sulfoxides, ajoene molecules, thiosulfinates, sulfides, and S-allylcysteine. This review presents an overview of the water-soluble and oil-soluble sulphur based phytochemical compounds present in garlic, highlighting their mechanism of action in treating various health conditions. However, its role as a therapeutic agent should be extensively studied as it depends on factors such as the effective dosage and the suitable method of preparation.
Jering (Archidendron jiringa) is eaten in the tropics and traditionally extolled for treating diabetes, high blood pressure and eliminating bladder stones. Jering contains an unusual amino acid-djenkolic acid (S,S'-methylenebiscysteine)-which may form sharp crystals in the urinary tract, causing pain and haematuria. This study evaluates the beneficial and toxic effects of dietary jering on tissues and organs in normal and diabetic rats.