Elsevier

The Journal of Nutrition

Volume 146, Issue 2, February 2016, Pages 403S-409S
The Journal of Nutrition

Garlic-Derived Organic Polysulfides and Myocardial Protection123

https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.114.208066Get rights and content
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Abstract

For centuries, garlic has been shown to exert substantial medicinal effects and is considered to be one of the best disease-preventative foods. Diet is important in the maintenance of health and prevention of many diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Preclinical and clinical evidence has shown that garlic reduces risks associated with CVD by lowering cholesterol, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure. In recent years, emerging evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has cardioprotective and cytoprotective properties. The active metabolite in garlic, allicin, is readily degraded into organic diallyl polysulfides that are potent H2S donors in the presence of thiols. Preclinical studies have shown that enhancement of endogenous H2S has an impact on vascular reactivity. In CVD models, the administration of H2S prevents myocardial injury and dysfunction. It is hypothesized that these beneficial effects of garlic may be mediated by H2S-dependent mechanisms. This review evaluates the current knowledge concerning the cardioprotective effects of garlic-derived diallyl polysulfides.

Keywords

hydrogen sulfide
nitric oxide
acute myocardial infarction
heart failure
cardioprotection

Abbreviations

AGE
aged garlic extract
CAC
coronary artery calcification
CAD
coronary artery disease
CBS
cystathionine β-synthase
CRP
C-reactive protein
CSE
cystathionine γ-lyase
CVD
cardiovascular disease
DADS
diallyl disulfide
DAS
diallyl sulfide
DATS
diallyl trisulfide
eNOS
endothelial nitric oxide synthase
GPIIb/IIa
glycoprotein IIb/IIa
HMG-CoA
β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A
H2S
hydrogen sulfide
TAC
transverse aortic constriction
3-MST
3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase

Cited by (0)

1

Published in a supplement to The Journal of Nutrition. Presented at the conference “2014 International Garlic Symposium: Role of Garlic in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Metabolic Syndrome, and Immunology,” held 4–6 March 2014 at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA. This supplement is dedicated to our colleague and friend John A Milner. His dedication to good science and his voice for nutrition are remembered and sorely missed. The symposium was sponsored by the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine and the University of Florida and co-sponsored by the American Botanical Council; the American Herbal Products Association; the ASN; the Japanese Society for Food Factors; the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry; the Japan Society of Nutrition and Food Science; and the Natural Products Association. The symposium was supported by Agencias Motta S.A.; Bionam; Eco-Nutraceuticos; Healthy U 2000 Ltd.; Magna; Mannavita Bvba; MaxiPharma; Medica Nord A.S.; Nature’s Farm Pte. Ltd.; Nature Valley W.L.L.; Organic Health Ltd.; Oy Valioravinto Ab; Purity Life Health Products L.P.; PT Nutriprima Jayasakti; Vitaco Health Ltd.; Vitae Natural Nutrition; Sanofi Consumer Health Care; Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; and Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd. The Chair of the conference and Scientific Program Coordinator for the supplement publication was Matthew J Budoff, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Scientific Program Coordinator disclosures: MJ Budoff has been awarded research grants from Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd., and received an honorarium for serving as Chair of the conference. Vice-Chair and Supplement Coordinator for the supplement publication was Susan S Percival, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Supplement Coordinator disclosures: SS Percival has been awarded research grants from Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd., and received an honorarium for serving as Vice-Chair of the conference. Publication costs for this supplement were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This publication must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 USC section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and are not attributable to the sponsors or the publisher, Editor, or Editorial Board of The Journal of Nutrition.

2

Supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (1R01 HL092141, 1R01 HL093579, 1U24 HL 094373, and 1P20 HL113452; to DJL) and by the Louisiana State University Health Foundation in New Orleans.

3

Author disclosures: JM Bradley, CL Organ, and DJ Lefer, no conflicts of interest.