Nutraceutical inhibition of muscle proteolysis: a role of diallyl sulphide in the treatment of muscle wasting.
OBJECTIVE
The abnormalities associated with cancer cachexia include anorexia, weight loss, muscle loss and atrophy, anaemia and alterations in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the anti-wasting effects of some nutraceuticals such as genistein, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate and diallyl sulphide (DAS).


METHODS
The in vitro effects of these nutraceuticals on proteolysis were examined in muscle cell cultures submitted to hyperthermia. The in vivo effects of DAS were also tested in cachectic tumour-bearing rats (Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma).


RESULTS
Although all the nutraceuticals tested inhibited muscle proteolysis, the most promising effects were related with DAS. In vivo administration of DAS only leads to a small improvement in tibialis muscle and heart weights; however, administration of DAS to healthy animals increased all muscle weights, this being associated with a decreased gene expression of proteolytic systems components.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be suggested that DAS could be used to improve muscle mass during healthy conditions.
Olivan
Mireia
M
Cancer Research Group, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Busquets
Sílvia
S
Figueras
Maite
M
Fontes de Oliveira
Cibely
C
Toledo
Míriam
M
Sette
Angelica
A
Ventura da Silva
Paula
P
Barberis
Pablo
P
Argilés
Josep M
JM
López-Soriano
Francisco J
FJ
D000498:Allyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002100:Cachexia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000150:complications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013440:Sulfides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015431:Weight Loss
D000498:Allyl Compounds; D013267:Stilbenes; D013440:Sulfides; C038491:allyl sulfide; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D019833:Genistein; D000077185:Resveratrol