Molecular Mechanisms of Anti-cancer Action of Garlic Compounds in Neuroblastoma

Surajit      Karmakar; Subhasree      Roy Choudhury; Naren      L. Banik; Swapan      K. Ray

Abstract

The medicinal properties of garlic (Allium sativum) have been well known and widely used since historical times. Garlic compounds have received increasing attention during the last few years due to their cancer chemopreventive properties. The anti-cancer activity of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds (OSCs) are extensively reported in many cancers but only a few in the pediatric tumor neuroblastoma, which warrants exploration of new therapy for its management. There are some recent reports suggesting that garlicderived OSCs cause cell cycle arrest, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), activate stress kinases, and also stimulate the mitochondrial pathway for apoptosis in malignant neuroblastoma. The comprehensive mechanisms of anti-cancer action of OSCs still remain unclear and require more studies in neuroblastoma. This review is designed to highlight the known molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer actions of garlic-derived OSCs in neuroblastoma and as well as in several other cancers. Further studies should be conducted to establish the clinical expediency of garlic-derived OSCs for treatment of malignant neuroblastoma in humans.

Keywords: Apoptosis, caspases, calpain, diallyl sufide, diallyl disulfide, neuroblastoma, stem cell transplantation, high-risk neuroblastomas, DNA fragmentation, pro-apoptotic molecules, DNase (ICAD), Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), phytochemicals