Divya Dattaprasad, Vickram, Kashinath Rattihalli Thirumalarao
BACKGROUND Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is an established hypolipidemic and cancer protective organosulfur compound of garlic. Lipids are essential for cell growth and proliferation, apart from providing energy to the cells. Increased rate of lipid synthesis seen in cancer cells is a prerequisite and key for cancer development and metastasis. Present study was undertaken to assess the effects of DADS on liver lipid alterations in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells induced hepatoma in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice were divided into normal, control, curative and protective groups. Hepatoma was induced by intraperitoneal injection of EAC cells. DADS (100 mg/kg body weight/mouse/day) was orally fed to protective and curative group mice for a stipulated time period. Mice of all groups were sacrificed, and liver tissue total lipids, total cholesterol and HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity were estimated. RESULTS This work showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in liver tissue total lipids, total cholesterol and HMG-CoA reductase activity in DADS fed mice groups compared to control mice group. CONCLUSION Probably by reducing the cellular NADPH levels as well as by involving in disulfide exchange reactions with key enzymes (thiol enzymes) of lipid metabolism, DADS showed lipid lowering as well as tumour regressive effects. The study suggests that utility of DADS targeting lipid metabolism could be a novel strategy for cancer prevention and treatment.
