Ethyl acetate fraction of garlic (Allium sativum) inhibits the viability of MCF7 and HepG2 through induction of apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest

Abstract

Background: Garlic (Allium sativum) with its main component organosulfur compounds (OSCs) has an anticancer effect against a large verity of cancer cells. This anticancer effect was studied on individual garlic components, rather than fractions. Methods: Herein, we investigated the anticancer effect of different garlic fractions on the MCF7 and HepG2 cells and studied the underlying mechanism. Results: Different garlic fractions, extracted by methylene chloride (MC), petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (B) solvents, each alone exhibited significant dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity on MCF7 and HepG2 cells with best results for EtOAc with IC 50 values 21.32 and 26.22 μg/ml, respectively, as compared to vehicle-treated cells. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of 14 components in EtOAc fraction with highest concentrations for linoleic acid (LA) and S-allylthiocysteine (SAC). EtOAc fraction inhibited cancer cells proliferation through induction of apoptosis (revealed by a significant increase in mRNA levels of apoptotic markers, Caspase 3 and Bax and a significant decrease in mRNA levels of the anti-apoptotic marker, Bcl2) and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase (indicated by increase in number of MCF7 and HepG2 cells in this phase). Conclusions: These in vitro results suggest that garlic EtOAc fraction or its main component could be used as an adjuvant to anticancer drug or can help in the development of new anticancer drugs based on components of this fraction.