Title: | "Allicin, the Odor of Freshly Crushed Garlic: A Review of Recent Progress in Understanding Allicin's Effects on Cells" |
Author(s): | Borlinghaus J; Foerster Nee Reiter J; Kappler U; Antelmann H; Noll U; Gruhlke MCH; Slusarenko AJ; |
Address: | "Department of Plant Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany. School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. Institute of Biology-Microbiology, Freie Universitat Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany" |
DOI: | 10.3390/molecules26061505 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1420-3049 (Electronic) 1420-3049 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The volatile organic sulfur compound allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate) is produced as a defense substance when garlic (Allium sativum) tissues are damaged, for example by the activities of pathogens or pests. Allicin gives crushed garlic its characteristic odor, is membrane permeable and readily taken up by exposed cells. It is a reactive thiol-trapping sulfur compound that S-thioallylates accessible cysteine residues in proteins and low molecular weight thiols including the cellular redox buffer glutathione (GSH) in eukaryotes and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as bacillithiol (BSH) in Gram-positive firmicutes. Allicin shows dose-dependent antimicrobial activity. At higher doses in eukaryotes allicin can induce apoptosis or necrosis, whereas lower, biocompatible amounts can modulate the activity of redox-sensitive proteins and affect cellular signaling. This review summarizes our current knowledge of how bacterial and eukaryotic cells are specifically affected by, and respond to, allicin" |
Keywords: | Antioxidants/pharmacology Bacteria/drug effects Disulfides Garlic/chemistry/metabolism Glutathione/metabolism Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects Oxidative Stress/drug effects P; |
Notes: | "MedlineBorlinghaus, Jan Foerster Nee Reiter, Jana Kappler, Ulrike Antelmann, Haike Noll, Ulrike Gruhlke, Martin C H Slusarenko, Alan J eng RFwN Ph.D. stipendium/RWTH Aachen University/ GA 615585/ERC Consolidator Grant/ SPP1710 project AN746/4-2/Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ GNT1158451/National Health and Medical Research Council/ Review Switzerland 2021/04/04 Molecules. 2021 Mar 10; 26(6):1505. doi: 10.3390/molecules26061505" |