| Allium Vegetables and Organosulfur Compounds: Do They Help Prevent Cancer? Franca Bianchini and Harri Vainio Unit of Chemoprevention, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France Abstract
Allium vegetables have been shown to have beneficial effects against several diseases, including cancer. Garlic, onions, leeks, and chives have been reported to protect against stomach and colorectal cancers, although evidence for a protective effect against cancer at other sites, including the breast, is still insufficient. The protective effect appears to be related to the presence of organosulfur compounds and mainly allyl derivatives, which inhibit carcinogenesis in the forestomach, esophagus, colon, mammary gland, and lung of experimental animals. The exact mechanisms of the cancer-preventive effects are not clear, although several hypotheses have been proposed. Organosulfur compounds modulate the activity of several metabolizing enzymes that activate (cytochrome P450s) or detoxify (glutathione S-transferases) carcinogens and inhibit the formation of DNA adducts in several target tissues. Antiproliferative activity has been described in several tumor cell lines, which is possibly mediated by induction of apoptosis and alterations of the cell cycle. Allium vegetables and organosulfur compounds are thus possible cancer-preventive agents. Clinical trials will be required to define the effective dose that has no toxicity in humans. Key words: Allium, cancer prevention, chemoprevention, garlic, organosulfur compounds, vegetables. Environ Health Perspect 109:893-902 (2001) . [Online 16 August 2001] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109p893-902bianchini/ abstract.html Address correspondence to F. Bianchini, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France. Telephone: +33 (0) 4 72 73 84 85. Fax: +33 (0) 4 72 73 83 19. E-mail: bianchini@iarc.fr We also thank A.J. Sasco for reading and reviewing this paper and for her valuable comments. The financial support of the Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research, Japan, is gratefully acknowledged. Received 22 December 2000 ; accepted 2 March 2001.
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