title: Allicin inhibits transient outward potassium currents in mouse ventricular myocytes.
abstract: Allicin is the active constituent of garlic, a widely used spice and food. The remedial properties of garlic have also been extensively researched and it has been demonstrated that allicin is able to inhibit the transient outward potassium current (Ito) in atrial myocytes. However, the direct effect of allicin on Itoin ventricular myocytes has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of allicin on Itoin ventricular myocytes isolated from mice were investigated, using the whole-cell patch recording technique. The results revealed that Itocurrent was not significantly suppressed by allicin in the low-dose group (10 µmol/l; P>0.05). However, Itowas significantly inhibited by higher doses of allicin (30, 100 and 300 µmol/l; P<0.05 vs. control; n=6) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50=41.6 µmol/l). In addition, a high concentration of allicin (≥100 µmol/l) was able to accelerate the voltage-dependent inactivation of Itoin mouse ventricular myocytes. In conclusion, the present study revealed that allicin inhibited the Itoin mouse ventricular myocytes, which may be the mechanism through which allicin exerts its antiarrhythmic effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China; Department of Gerontology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Congxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: allicin; mice; transient outward potassium current