Antithrombotic and antineoplastic effects of phyto-organosulfur compounds

The antiplatelet activity of methyl allyltrisulfide (MATS), a component commonly present in steam-distilled garlic oil, has been demonstrated by the authors. MATS inhibits arachidonic acid cascade at the reaction site with PGH synthase. However, this enzyme catalyzes two successive reactions, from arachidonic acid to PGG2, and from PGG2 to PGH2. The present study revealed that MATS inhibited the latter reaction. In addition, our recent findings that to a promyelocytic leukemia cell HL60, Allium oils shows marked anti-neoplastic effects representing both growth suppression and differentiation activities are described. The garlic oil and onion oil showed almost equal ability in inducing the proliferation, which measured either by nitroblue-tetrazolium reducing activity assay or by flow cytometry for detecting CD11b expression. The combination use of one of these oils with all-trans retinoic acid or with dimethyl sulfoxide lead to the marked differentiation of the cells, and their effects were estimated to be synergistic.