Anti-proliferative and apoptotic efficacy of diallyl disulfide on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to assess the in vivo and in vitro anti-tumor effects of diallyl disulfide (DADS) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and to suggest its probable mechanism of action. Methods: EAC was induced in female mice by intraperitoneal injection of EAC-cells from stock mice. EAC-bearing mice were orally treated with 100 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks beginning from the 1st day of EAC intraperitoneal transplantation. Cytotoxicity effects of DADS against EAC-cells in vitro were investigated at different concentrations (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) of DADS using trypan blue exclusion assay. Results: Data from this study exhibited a signifi cant decrease in EAC-aliquot volume as well as total and alive EAC-cell number and a marked increase in dead EAC-cell number and percent in EAC-bearing mice treated with DADS as compared with EAC-bearing control. These changes were consistent with increased number of cells which exhibited phenotypic apoptotic signs marked by a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, an increase of pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest mediator p53 and an elevation of DNA fragmenting indicator terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase in EAC-bearing mice treated with DADS. In addition, the tumor marker sialic acid level was markedly decreased in plasma and Ehrlich ascites in EAC-bearing mice treated with DADS. In vitro, DADS also produced anti-proliferative and anti-tumor cytotoxic potentials against EAC. Conclusion: DADS may have anti-cancer effects which may be mediated via modulation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.