title: Garlic extracts prevent oxidative stress, hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes: a role for nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In ancient times, plants were recognized for their medicinal properties. Later, the arrival of synthetic drugs pushed it to the backstage. However, from being merely used for food, plants are now been widely explored for their therapeutic value. The current study explores the potential of skin and flesh extracts from a hard-necked Rocambole variety of purple garlic in preventing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Norepinephrine (NE) was used to induce hypertrophy in adult rat cardiomyocytes pretreated with garlic skin and flesh extracts. Cell death was measured as ratio of rod to round shaped cardiomyocytes. Fluorescent probes were used to measure apoptosis and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes treated with and without extracts and NE. Pharmacological blockade of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) were used to elucidate the mechanism of action of garlic extracts. Garlic extract samples were also tested for alliin and allicin concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure of cardiomyocytes to NE induced an increase in cell size and cell death; this increase was significantly prevented upon treatment with garlic skin and flesh extracts. Norepinephrine increased apoptosis and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes which was prevented upon pretreatment with skin and flesh extracts; NO, and H₂S blockers significantly inhibited this beneficial effect. Allicin and alliin concentration were significantly higher in garlic flesh extract when compared to the skin extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that both skin and flesh garlic extracts are effective in preventing NE induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death. Reduction in oxidative stress may also play an important role in the anti-hypertrophic and anti-apoptotic properties of garlic extracts. These beneficial effects may in part be mediated by NO and H₂S.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, Winnipeg R2H2A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Xavier Lieben
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Sijo Joseph
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thandapilly
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Netticadan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004220:Disulfides; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004220:Disulfides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C006452:allicin; C006453:alliin; D003545:Cysteine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide