Organosulfur Compounds of Garlic as Potent Chemotherapeutic Agents Against Cancer

Abstract

Experimental and epidemiological studies over the past few decades have provided ample evidences with regard to the association amid plant food consumption and decreased cancer risk. Many phytochemicals have proved their anticancer potential to be used as therapeutics against cancer. Among them garlic (Allium sativum) has been of much interest, mostly due to the epidemiological reports, which linked the increased garlic consumption with reduced prevalence of many human diseases. Garlic and their constituent organosulfur compounds (OSCs) have been attributed to several medicinal properties like hypocholesterolemic, fibrinolytic, immunostimulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer effects. The OSCs have been shown to have strong anticarcinogenic property against a variety of chemical carcinogens in different preclinical animal model studies. Extensive researches are still being carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of OSCs. The main focus of the present chapter is to give an overview of the past and present studies undergoing on organosulfur compounds for exploring their potential as an adjunct in cancer chemotherapeutics and research.