scholarly journals Garlic: Much More Than a Common Spice

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1544
Author(s):  
Michael E. Netzel

Garlic is a widely consumed and popular spice with a characteristic “aroma” or odour. It contains a broad range of bioactive components such as organosulfur compounds, saponins and polyphenols, but can be also rich in vitamins and minerals. Numerous biological properties are attributed to garlic, from antimicrobial activities to neuro- and renal-protection. In addition, post-harvest treatment, storage and processing, such as fermentation and heat, can have a significant effect on garlic and its bioactive compounds, and subsequently alter its bioactive properties. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the “full” biological potential of garlic including well designed human clinical trials, detailed storage and processing studies as well as sophisticated in vitro cell culture models to better understand the underlying mechanisms of action.

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (17) ◽  
pp. 6425-6434 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Jameel Shah ◽  
Tony Hunter

ABSTRACT The TSC1-TSC2/Rheb/Raptor-mTOR/S6K1 cell growth cassette has recently been shown to regulate cell autonomous insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) sensitivity by transducing a negative feedback signal that targets insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS1 and -2). Using two cell culture models of the familial hamartoma syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, we show here that Raptor-mTOR and S6K1 are required for phosphorylation of IRS1 at a subset of serine residues frequently associated with insulin resistance, including S307, S312, S527, S616, and S636 (of human IRS1). Using loss- and gain-of-function S6K1 constructs, we demonstrate a requirement for the catalytic activity of S6K1 in both direct and indirect regulation of IRS1 serine phosphorylation. S6K1 phosphorylates IRS1 in vitro on multiple residues showing strong preference for RXRXXS/T over S/T,P sites. IRS1 is preferentially depleted from the high-speed pellet fraction in TSC1/2-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts or in HEK293/293T cells overexpressing Rheb. These studies suggest that, through serine phosphorylation, Raptor-mTOR and S6K1 cell autonomously promote the depletion of IRS1 from specific intracellular pools in pathological states of insulin and IGF-I resistance and thus potentially in lesions associated with tuberous sclerosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. e632-e640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miltiadis Fiorentzis ◽  
Periklis Katopodis ◽  
Helen Kalirai ◽  
Berthold Seitz ◽  
Arne Viestenz ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirmin H. Lakner ◽  
Michael G. Monaghan ◽  
Yvonne Möller ◽  
Monilola A. Olayioye ◽  
Katja Schenke-Layland

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 862-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans C Helms ◽  
N Joan Abbott ◽  
Malgorzata Burek ◽  
Romeo Cecchelli ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Couraud ◽  
...  

The endothelial cells lining the brain capillaries separate the blood from the brain parenchyma. The endothelial monolayer of the brain capillaries serves both as a crucial interface for exchange of nutrients, gases, and metabolites between blood and brain, and as a barrier for neurotoxic components of plasma and xenobiotics. This “blood-brain barrier” function is a major hindrance for drug uptake into the brain parenchyma. Cell culture models, based on either primary cells or immortalized brain endothelial cell lines, have been developed, in order to facilitate in vitro studies of drug transport to the brain and studies of endothelial cell biology and pathophysiology. In this review, we aim to give an overview of established in vitro blood–brain barrier models with a focus on their validation regarding a set of well-established blood–brain barrier characteristics. As an ideal cell culture model of the blood–brain barrier is yet to be developed, we also aim to give an overview of the advantages and drawbacks of the different models described.


Nanotoxicity ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 379-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Blank ◽  
Peter Gehr ◽  
Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivica Blažević ◽  
Azra Đulović ◽  
Vedrana Čikeš Čulić ◽  
Franko Burčul ◽  
Ivica Ljubenkov ◽  
...  

Bunias erucago belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which represents a forgotten crop of the Euro-Mediterranean area. The aim of the present study was to determine the glucosinolate profile in different plant parts and biological properties (antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and cytotoxic activities) of the isolates containing glucosinolate breakdown products. The chemical profiles were determined by using HPLC-PDA-MS/MS of desulfoglucosinolates and GC-MS of glucosinolate degradation products. The analysis of B. erucago showed the presence of seven glucosinolates: gluconapin (1), glucoraphasatin (2), glucoraphenin (3), glucoerucin (4), glucoraphanin (5), glucotropaeolin (6), and glucosinalbin (7). The total glucosinolate content ranged from 7.0 to 14.6 µmol/g of dry weight, with the major glucosinolate glucosinalbin in all parts. The antioxidant activity of all volatile isolates was not notable. At a tested concentration of 227 μg/mL, flower hydro-distillate (FH) showed good AChE inhibition, i.e., 40.9%, while root hydro-distillate (RH) had good activity against BChE, i.e., 54.3%. FH showed the best activity against both tested human bladder cancer cell lines, i.e., against T24 after 72 h, which have IC50 of 16.0 μg/mL, and against TCCSUP after 48 h with IC50 of 7.8 μg/mL, and can be considered as highly active. On the other hand, RH showed weak activity against tested cancer cells.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1400900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaopeng Wang ◽  
Caihua Zhang ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Yanzong Yang

Numerous studies have revealed that regular consumption of certain fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of many diseases. The rhizome of Zingiber officinale (ginger) is consumed worldwide as a spice and herbal medicine. It contains pungent phenolic substances collectively known as gingerols. 6-Gingerol is the major pharmacologically-active component of ginger. It is known to exhibit a variety of biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation. 6-Gingerol has been found to possess anticancer activities via its effect on a variety of biological pathways involved in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, cytotoxic activity, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Thus, due to its efficacy and regulation of multiple targets, as well as its safety for human use, 6-gingerol has received considerable interest as a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases. Taken together, this review summarizes the various in vitro and in vivo pharmacological aspects of 6-gingerol and the underlying mechanisms.


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