Abstract
Herbal medicine is currently widely practiced, since natural resources are reported to alleviate side effects during oncological treatment while modifying cancer cell responses at the same time. Allium vegetables and their constituents have recently been extensively investigated due to the numerous possible beneficial properties, establishing them as an additional treatment modality in different cancers. According to the epidemiological evidence, as well as many in vivo and in vitro studies, the abovementioned substances seem to be effective in the prevention and inhibition of the progression of carcinogenesis. Due to high concentrations of organosulfur compounds, which exhibit anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, Allium constituents are believed to constitute a promising prevention and supportive therapy for oncological patients. Besides, it was demonstrated that a combination of Allium extracts with chemotherapy provided satisfactory clinical outcomes while at the same time being cost-effective. The aim of this review was to present and discuss currently investigated Allium extracts and their effects on several gastrointestinal cancers including gastric, colon, liver, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer.
Highlights
The usage of medical herbs dates back to ancient times when they were used to relieve both physical and mental pain, while they are still widely applied and continually investigated nowadays due to their numerous advantages in various fields of medicine
Allium vegetables constitute a group of flowering plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, which are currently one of the most prevalently used in medicine [1]
These substances might potentially act as an early prevention of esophageal cancer; very little is known about the effects exerted by these substances in in vitro studies on esophageal cancer cells which might be considered for further research
Summary
The usage of medical herbs dates back to ancient times when they were used to relieve both physical and mental pain, while they are still widely applied and continually investigated nowadays due to their numerous advantages in various fields of medicine. Except for potential anticarcinogenic properties, Allium vegetables and their constituents have been shown to modulate immune functions by activating macrophages and inducing T-cell proliferation, provide radioprotection, modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and might possibly have antiaging properties because of their antioxidant activities [6,7,8,9,10]. During the processing of Allium vegetables, a significant number of flavonoids, saponins, and organosulfur compounds (OSCs) is produced, presenting the ability to inhibit cellular proliferation as well as to induce the cell cycle arrest or Gastroenterol. Numerous ininvitro studies showed aahigh cytotoxic activity ofofthe active compounds (OSCs, flavonoids, saponins) found in Allium vegetables, which currently allows for fur[11]. Allium vegetables, which currently allows for therflavonoids, investigations regarding theinindevelopment of new anticancer drugs. (OSCs, flavonoids, Allium vegetables, allows forfurfur-the saponins) foundsaponins) in Alliumfound vegetables, which currentlywhich allowscurrently for further investigations ther investigations regarding the development of new anticancer drugs. OSCs, while when it OSCs, while ititisis cooked, mostly contains only disulfide and trisulfide (DATS)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
