455
The inhibition of inflammatory mediators of DATS, DADS, and DAS was also
compared in terms of suppression of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of nitric oxide (NO). It was believed that the inhibitory
effect can be related to the number of S atoms in the OSC (Liu et al. 2006). The
order of inhibitory effect was DAS < DADS < DATS. This result was also confirmed when different OSCs were compared in terms of their inhibitory property
and DATS was found to be the most effective (Trio et al. 2014).
SFN was also found to be useful as a therapeutic substance for treating
inflammatory- related diseases (Chen et al. 2009). These results were observed by
inhibiting expression of genes causing inflammation in endothelial cells. SFN was
also found to have anti-inflammatory properties as a result of down-regulation of
LPS-stimulated iNOS and TNF-α in mouse macrophages (Heiss et al. 2001).
Organosulfur-rich essential oils extracted from different medicinal plants from
Cameroon were also noted to possess anti-inflammatory properties using albumin
denaturation method (Ndoye et al. 2016). The results supported the medicinal use of
different plants against skin disorders and inflammatory-related diseases in
Cameroon. DADS found in garlic oil was also evaluated in terms of its activity
against airway inflammation and found that it reduced the inflammation of the airway and mucus hypersecretion induced by OVA challenge (Shin et al. 2013).
21.4.3 Anti-Bacterial Properties
OSCs also possess anti-bacterial properties. This group of compounds has become
attractive as a subject of anti-bacterial studies due to its unique capability of interrupting bacterial cell walls without harming human cells (Heldreth and Turos 2005).
These compounds commonly found in garlic and shallots are most responsible for
their anti-bacterial properties (Mikaili et al. 2013). Moreover, the anti-bacterial
properties of these spices are believed to be results of the interaction of the sulfurcontaining compounds with the thiol groups of microbial enzymes preventing
growth microbial communities (Bakri and Douglas 2005).
DATS has also been used in China to treat bacterial infections which created an
interest in sulfur-containing compounds (Lun et al. 1994). Patented allicin and other
related sulfur-containing compounds showed anti-bacterial properties in blood
products inhibiting selected microorganisms and increase shelf life of blood products (Goodrich 2003). Allicin also showed potent in vitro antibacterial activity
against E. coli, S. aureus, S. pyrogenes, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, A. baumanii, and
K. pneumonie (Block 1992; Goncharov et al. 2016). Moreover, allicin was found to
be the compound responsible for the microbial inhibitory action of essential oil
extracted from garlic (Babu et al. 2011). In addition, allicin was reported to possess
bactericidal activity against 25 saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria (Lanzotti et al.
2014). Although allicin was noted to possess anti-bacterial properties, the stability
of ajoene and other OSCs makes it a better lead compound in crude extracts
(Viswanathan et al. 2014).
21 Health Benefits of Organosulfur Compounds
The inhibition of inflammatory mediators of DATS, DADS, and DAS was also
compared in terms of suppression of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of nitric oxide (NO). It was believed that the inhibitory
effect can be related to the number of S atoms in the OSC (Liu et al. 2006). The
order of inhibitory effect was DAS < DADS < DATS. This result was also confirmed when different OSCs were compared in terms of their inhibitory property
and DATS was found to be the most effective (Trio et al. 2014).
SFN was also found to be useful as a therapeutic substance for treating
inflammatory- related diseases (Chen et al. 2009). These results were observed by
inhibiting expression of genes causing inflammation in endothelial cells. SFN was
also found to have anti-inflammatory properties as a result of down-regulation of
LPS-stimulated iNOS and TNF-α in mouse macrophages (Heiss et al. 2001).
Organosulfur-rich essential oils extracted from different medicinal plants from
Cameroon were also noted to possess anti-inflammatory properties using albumin
denaturation method (Ndoye et al. 2016). The results supported the medicinal use of
different plants against skin disorders and inflammatory-related diseases in
Cameroon. DADS found in garlic oil was also evaluated in terms of its activity
against airway inflammation and found that it reduced the inflammation of the airway and mucus hypersecretion induced by OVA challenge (Shin et al. 2013).
21.4.3 Anti-Bacterial Properties
OSCs also possess anti-bacterial properties. This group of compounds has become
attractive as a subject of anti-bacterial studies due to its unique capability of interrupting bacterial cell walls without harming human cells (Heldreth and Turos 2005).
These compounds commonly found in garlic and shallots are most responsible for
their anti-bacterial properties (Mikaili et al. 2013). Moreover, the anti-bacterial
properties of these spices are believed to be results of the interaction of the sulfurcontaining compounds with the thiol groups of microbial enzymes preventing
growth microbial communities (Bakri and Douglas 2005).
DATS has also been used in China to treat bacterial infections which created an
interest in sulfur-containing compounds (Lun et al. 1994). Patented allicin and other
related sulfur-containing compounds showed anti-bacterial properties in blood
products inhibiting selected microorganisms and increase shelf life of blood products (Goodrich 2003). Allicin also showed potent in vitro antibacterial activity
against E. coli, S. aureus, S. pyrogenes, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, A. baumanii, and
K. pneumonie (Block 1992; Goncharov et al. 2016). Moreover, allicin was found to
be the compound responsible for the microbial inhibitory action of essential oil
extracted from garlic (Babu et al. 2011). In addition, allicin was reported to possess
bactericidal activity against 25 saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria (Lanzotti et al.
2014). Although allicin was noted to possess anti-bacterial properties, the stability
of ajoene and other OSCs makes it a better lead compound in crude extracts
(Viswanathan et al. 2014).
21 Health Benefits of Organosulfur Compounds