title: In vitro cytotoxic effect of garlic extract on malignant and nonmalignant cell lines.
abstract: Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the world and despite many years of research, the treatment of cancer is still a problem. Epidemiological observations and laboratory studies have indicated anticarcinogenic potential of garlic, which has been traditionally used for various human diseases around the world. In this study the cytotoxicity of garlic extract against three malignant cancer cell lines including gastric (AGS), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HT-29) and a nonmalignant cell line (L929) were evaluated by the MTT assay.   The results of this study reveal MCF-7 and AGS cells were sensitive to garlic extract. Despite a many reports on inhibitory effects of garlic on cancer cell line, our data showed these effects are tumor specific and dose dependent. Further studies on animal models and humans are needed to clarify the important molecules and their mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University Tehran, IR, Iran. tghazanfari@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tooba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghazanfari
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yaraee
authors.forename: Batool
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rahmati
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hakimzadeh
authors.forename: Jalaledin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jalali-Nadoushan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003603:Cytotoxins; D010936:Plant Extracts