Cytotoxic and antitumor activities of thiosulfinates from Allium tuberosum L

J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Sep 19;55(19):7957-61. doi: 10.1021/jf0713051. Epub 2007 Aug 22.

Abstract

In this study we isolated crude thiosulfinates from Allium tuberosum L. using CH 2Cl 2 and then with silica gel column chromatography purified S-methyl methanthiosulfinate and S-methyl 2-propene-1-thiosulfinate from the crude thiosulfinates. Subsequently, in vitro cytotoxicities against human cancer cells and in vivo antitumor activities of the thiosulfinates were investigated. Their cytotoxicities were strong in human cancer cells, in the order of S-methyl 2-propene-1-thiosulfinate, crude thiosulfinates, and S-methyl methanthiosulfinate. When thiosulfinates were administered consecutively for 7 days at 10, 30, and 50 mg/kg ip, in mice, we found significant increases in the life spans of mice that had been inoculated with Sacorma-180 tumor cells. The crude thiosulfinates also induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. These results suggest that thiosulfinates from Allium tuberosum L. inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells via apoptosis and have antitumor activities.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chive / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Sarcoma 180 / drug therapy
  • Sulfinic Acids / isolation & purification
  • Sulfinic Acids / pharmacology
  • Sulfinic Acids / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Sulfinic Acids
  • thiosulfinic acids