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 diseasepreventative 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 preventsmyocardial injury and dysfunction. It is hypothesized that these beneficial effects of garlicmay bemediated by H2Sdependent mechanisms. This review evaluates the current knowledge concerning the cardioprotective effects of garlicderived diallyl polysulfides.