460
21.4.9 Other Health Benefits of OSCs
OSCs also possess other health benefits as suggested by different studies. Allicin
together with adenosine was noted to be the most potent constituent of garlic with
anti-platelet properties (Agarwal 1996). Ajoene was also found to inhibit the aggregation of platelets in various animals (Jain and Apitz-Castro 1987). This anti- platelet
activity was believed to be a result of the suppression of the coagulation system by
inhibiting thrombin formation (Mikaili et al. 2013). DATS was also found to possess anti-thrombotic properties against human leukaemia cells via apoptosis by the
production of ROS (Choi and Park 2012). DATS was also found to inhibit platelet
activity but DADS was found to be more potent (Bordia et al. 1998). Other sulfurcontaining compounds from garlic were also noted to be effective in inhibiting
platelet aggregation (MacDonald et al. 2004). Other thermochemical forms of allicin were also found to possess anti-thrombotic agents like allyl trisulfides, ajoenes,
and dithiins (Nishimura et al. 2000).
Anti-viral properties of OSCs were also noted in various studies. Virucidal activity of OSCs from A. sativum were studied and ajoene was found to be the most
potent while methyl allyl thiosulfinate was the least potent against several viral
strains (Weber et al. 1992). Allicin was also noted to possess anti-viral properties
against several viral strains (Ankri and Mirelman 1999) while in another study it
was found that this compound protects against common cold virus (Josling 2001).
DATS was also found to possess activity against human cytomegalovirus by inhibiting replication and expression viral genes (Zhen et al. 2006).
Neuro-protective properties are also exhibited by other OSCs. The neuroprotective properties of isothiocynate sulforaphane is believed to be brought about
by its ability to trigger Nrf2/ARE pathway (Tarozzi et al. 2013). Moreover, this
compound was also found to stimulate in vitro activity of ubiquitin-proteasome system and also activate protein degradation pathways in both peripheral tissues and
the brain (Liu et al. 2014). SAC was also noted to possess multiple mechanisms to
prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (Chauhan 2006; Ray et al. 2011a, b;
Goncharov et al. 2016).
Organosulfurs were also noted to have hepato-protective effects. These compounds activate and increase the GSH-related antioxidant system activity in rat liver
offering it protection from oxidants and oxidative stress (Wu et al. 2001; Agarwal
et al. 2007). The liver protection property of these compounds is brought about by
decreasing the oxidative damage in the liver (Gedik et al. 2005; Yun et al. 2014).
These compounds are allicin, allinin, SAC, and DADS.
Other health benefits organosulfurs provide are pharmaceutical effect against
arthritis by DADS (Williams et al. 2010) and DAS (Lee et al. 2009). SAC was also
noted to possess therapeutic effects against neuro-degenerative diseases including
stroke (Atif et al. 2009), ischemia (Ashafaq et al. 2012), Parkinson’s (García et al.
2010), and edema formation (Numagami et al. 1996). Some studies on the various
sources and benefits of OSCs were presented in Table 21.1.
A. M. P. Walag et al.
21.4.9 Other Health Benefits of OSCs
OSCs also possess other health benefits as suggested by different studies. Allicin
together with adenosine was noted to be the most potent constituent of garlic with
anti-platelet properties (Agarwal 1996). Ajoene was also found to inhibit the aggregation of platelets in various animals (Jain and Apitz-Castro 1987). This anti- platelet
activity was believed to be a result of the suppression of the coagulation system by
inhibiting thrombin formation (Mikaili et al. 2013). DATS was also found to possess anti-thrombotic properties against human leukaemia cells via apoptosis by the
production of ROS (Choi and Park 2012). DATS was also found to inhibit platelet
activity but DADS was found to be more potent (Bordia et al. 1998). Other sulfurcontaining compounds from garlic were also noted to be effective in inhibiting
platelet aggregation (MacDonald et al. 2004). Other thermochemical forms of allicin were also found to possess anti-thrombotic agents like allyl trisulfides, ajoenes,
and dithiins (Nishimura et al. 2000).
Anti-viral properties of OSCs were also noted in various studies. Virucidal activity of OSCs from A. sativum were studied and ajoene was found to be the most
potent while methyl allyl thiosulfinate was the least potent against several viral
strains (Weber et al. 1992). Allicin was also noted to possess anti-viral properties
against several viral strains (Ankri and Mirelman 1999) while in another study it
was found that this compound protects against common cold virus (Josling 2001).
DATS was also found to possess activity against human cytomegalovirus by inhibiting replication and expression viral genes (Zhen et al. 2006).
Neuro-protective properties are also exhibited by other OSCs. The neuroprotective properties of isothiocynate sulforaphane is believed to be brought about
by its ability to trigger Nrf2/ARE pathway (Tarozzi et al. 2013). Moreover, this
compound was also found to stimulate in vitro activity of ubiquitin-proteasome system and also activate protein degradation pathways in both peripheral tissues and
the brain (Liu et al. 2014). SAC was also noted to possess multiple mechanisms to
prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (Chauhan 2006; Ray et al. 2011a, b;
Goncharov et al. 2016).
Organosulfurs were also noted to have hepato-protective effects. These compounds activate and increase the GSH-related antioxidant system activity in rat liver
offering it protection from oxidants and oxidative stress (Wu et al. 2001; Agarwal
et al. 2007). The liver protection property of these compounds is brought about by
decreasing the oxidative damage in the liver (Gedik et al. 2005; Yun et al. 2014).
These compounds are allicin, allinin, SAC, and DADS.
Other health benefits organosulfurs provide are pharmaceutical effect against
arthritis by DADS (Williams et al. 2010) and DAS (Lee et al. 2009). SAC was also
noted to possess therapeutic effects against neuro-degenerative diseases including
stroke (Atif et al. 2009), ischemia (Ashafaq et al. 2012), Parkinson’s (García et al.
2010), and edema formation (Numagami et al. 1996). Some studies on the various
sources and benefits of OSCs were presented in Table 21.1.
A. M. P. Walag et al.