title: Garlic-Derived Organic Polysulfides and Myocardial Protection.
abstract: For centuries, garlic has been shown to exert substantial medicinal effects and is considered to be one of the best disease-preventative foods. Diet is important in the maintenance of health and prevention of many diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Preclinical and clinical evidence has shown that garlic reduces risks associated with CVD by lowering cholesterol, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and lowering blood pressure. In recent years, emerging evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has cardioprotective and cytoprotective properties. The active metabolite in garlic, allicin, is readily degraded into organic diallyl polysulfides that are potent H2S donors in the presence of thiols. Preclinical studies have shown that enhancement of endogenous H2S has an impact on vascular reactivity. In CVD models, the administration of H2S prevents myocardial injury and dysfunction. It is hypothesized that these beneficial effects of garlic may be mediated by H2S-dependent mechanisms. This review evaluates the current knowledge concerning the cardioprotective effects of garlic-derived diallyl polysulfides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Chelsea L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Organ
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA dlefe1@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lefer
mesh_terms: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004220:Disulfides; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009206:Myocardium; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013440:Sulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin; C032915:polysulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: acute myocardial infarction; cardioprotection; heart failure; hydrogen sulfide; nitric oxide