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Published on: September 29, 2023
Garlic and its Active Compounds: A Potential Candidate in The Prevention of Cancer by Modulating Various Cell
Saleh A Almatroodi1, Mohammed A Alsahli1, Ahmad Almatroudi1
1Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Cancer is a multi-factorial disease including alterations in the cell signalling pathways. Currently, several drugs are in use to treat cancer but such drugs show negative side effects on normal cells and cause severe toxicity.
Methods:
The current research is mainly focused on medicinal plants with potential therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of cancer without any adverse effects on normal cells. In this regard, garlic and its active compounds including diallyl sulfide, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, and allicin have been established to suppress the growth of cancer and killing of cancer cells.
Result:
The review focuses on garlic and its active compounds chemopreventive effect through modulating various cell signalling pathways. Additionally, garlic and its active compound were established to induce cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and G2/M phases in cancer cells, increase the expression of tumor suppressor genes, inhibit the angiogenesis process, induction of apoptosis and modulation of various other genetic pathways.
Conclusion:
This review sketches the diverse chemopreventive activities of garlic and their active ingredients in the management of cancer mainly focusing on cell signalling pathways.
Insights
Garlic and its compounds show promise in cancer treatment by targeting cell signaling pathways, offering a natural approach with fewer side effects than traditional drugs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Cancer is a complex disease involving cell signaling pathway alterations.
- Conventional cancer drugs can cause severe toxicity and negative side effects on normal cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the chemopreventive effects of garlic and its active compounds in cancer management.
- To focus on the modulation of cell signaling pathways by garlic constituents.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on garlic and its active compounds (diallyl sulfide, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, allicin).
- Analysis of studies demonstrating the impact of garlic on cancer cell growth and survival.
Main Results:
- Garlic compounds suppress cancer growth and induce cancer cell death.
- Garlic constituents modulate cell signaling pathways, induce cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 and G2/M phases), upregulate tumor suppressor genes, inhibit angiogenesis, and promote apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Garlic and its active ingredients possess diverse chemopreventive activities.
- These natural compounds offer a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer management by targeting key cellular mechanisms.
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