Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Cancer logoLink to British Journal of Cancer
. 1993 Mar;67(3):424–429. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1993.82

Garlic and its significance for the prevention of cancer in humans: a critical view.

E Dorant 1, P A van den Brandt 1, R A Goldbohm 1, R J Hermus 1, F Sturmans 1
PMCID: PMC1968250  PMID: 8439494

Abstract

Recently published results of epidemiologic case-control studies in China and Italy on gastric carcinoma in relation to diet suggest that consuming garlic may reduce the risk of gastric cancer. Chemical constituents of garlic have been tested for their inhibiting effect on carcinogenesis, using in vitro and in vivo models. In most experiments inhibition of tumour growth was established using fresh garlic extract, garlic compounds or synthetically prepared analogs. In this review the strengths and weaknesses of the experiments are discussed and the outcomes are evaluated to assess the possible significance of garlic or garlic compounds for the prevention of cancer in humans. It is concluded that evidence from laboratory experiments and epidemiologic studies is presently not conclusive as to the preventive activity of garlic. However, the available evidence warrants further research into the possible role of garlic in the prevention of cancer in humans.

Full text

PDF
428

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Abdullah T. H., Kandil O., Elkadi A., Carter J. Garlic revisited: therapeutic for the major diseases of our times? J Natl Med Assoc. 1988 Apr;80(4):439–445. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baer A. R., Wargovich M. J. Role of ornithine decarboxylase in diallyl sulfide inhibition of colonic radiation injury in the mouse. Cancer Res. 1989 Sep 15;49(18):5073–5076. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Belman S. Onion and garlic oils inhibit tumor promotion. Carcinogenesis. 1983 Aug;4(8):1063–1065. doi: 10.1093/carcin/4.8.1063. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bertram J. S., Kolonel L. N., Meyskens F. L., Jr Rationale and strategies for chemoprevention of cancer in humans. Cancer Res. 1987 Jun 1;47(11):3012–3031. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Block E. The chemistry of garlic and onions. Sci Am. 1985 Mar;252(3):114–119. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican0385-114. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bolton S., Null G., Troetel W. M. The medical uses of garlic--fact and fiction. Am Pharm. 1982 Aug;NS22(8):40–43. doi: 10.1016/s0160-3450(16)31735-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brady J. F., Li D. C., Ishizaki H., Yang C. S. Effect of diallyl sulfide on rat liver microsomal nitrosamine metabolism and other monooxygenase activities. Cancer Res. 1988 Nov 1;48(21):5937–5940. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Buiatti E., Palli D., Decarli A., Amadori D., Avellini C., Bianchi S., Biserni R., Cipriani F., Cocco P., Giacosa A. A case-control study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy. Int J Cancer. 1989 Oct 15;44(4):611–616. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910440409. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dausch J. G., Nixon D. W. Garlic: a review of its relationship to malignant disease. Prev Med. 1990 May;19(3):346–361. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(90)90034-h. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Davis D. L. Natural anticarcinogens, carcinogens, and changing patterns in cancer: some speculation. Environ Res. 1989 Dec;50(2):322–340. doi: 10.1016/s0013-9351(89)80013-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Desai H. G., Kalro R. H., Choksi A. P. Effect of ginger & garlic on DNA content of gastric aspirate. Indian J Med Res. 1990 Apr;92:139–141. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dubick M. A. Historical perspectives on the use of herbal preparations to promote health. J Nutr. 1986 Jul;116(7):1348–1354. doi: 10.1093/jn/116.7.1348. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fenwick G. R., Hanley A. B. The genus Allium--Part 3. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 1985;23(1):1–73. doi: 10.1080/10408398509527419. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Goldberg M. T., Josephy P. D. Studies on the mechanism of action of diallyl sulfide, an inhibitor of the genotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1987 Mar;65(3):467–471. doi: 10.1139/y87-080. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hayes M. A., Rushmore T. H., Goldberg M. T. Inhibition of hepatocarcinogenic responses to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine by diallyl sulfide, a component of garlic oil. Carcinogenesis. 1987 Aug;8(8):1155–1157. doi: 10.1093/carcin/8.8.1155. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hu P. J., Wargovich M. J. Effect of diallyl sulfide on MNNG-induced nuclear aberrations and ornithine decarboxylase activity in the glandular stomach mucosa of the Wistar rat. Cancer Lett. 1989 Sep 15;47(1-2):153–158. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(89)90192-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hussain S. P., Jannu L. N., Rao A. R. Chemopreventive action of garlic on methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix of mice. Cancer Lett. 1990 Feb;49(2):175–180. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(90)90155-q. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Joseph P. K., Rao K. R., Sundaresh C. S. Toxic effects of garlic extract and garlic oil in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 1989 Nov;27(11):977–979. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Knasmüller S., de Martin R., Domjan G., Szakmary A. Studies on the antimutagenic activities of garlic extract. Environ Mol Mutagen. 1989;13(4):357–365. doi: 10.1002/em.2850130413. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lawson L. D., Wang Z. J., Hughes B. G. Identification and HPLC quantitation of the sulfides and dialk(en)yl thiosulfinates in commercial garlic products. Planta Med. 1991 Aug;57(4):363–370. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-960119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Nishino H., Iwashima A., Itakura Y., Matsuura H., Fuwa T. Antitumor-promoting activity of garlic extracts. Oncology. 1989;46(4):277–280. doi: 10.1159/000226731. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Perchellet J. P., Perchellet E. M., Abney N. L., Zirnstein J. A., Belman S. Effects of garlic and onion oils on glutathione peroxidase activity, the ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione and ornithine decarboxylase induction in isolated mouse epidermal cells treated with tumor promoters. Cancer Biochem Biophys. 1986 Oct;8(4):299–312. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rao A. R., Sadhana A. S., Goel H. C. Inhibition of skin tumors in DMBA-induced complete carcinogenesis system in mice by garlic (Allium sativum). Indian J Exp Biol. 1990 May;28(5):405–408. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Sadhana A. S., Rao A. R., Kucheria K., Bijani V. Inhibitory action of garlic oil on the initiation of benzo[a]pyrene-induced skin carcinogenesis in mice. Cancer Lett. 1988 Jun 15;40(2):193–197. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(88)90010-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Scharfenberg K., Wagner R., Wagner K. G. The cytotoxic effect of ajoene, a natural product from garlic, investigated with different cell lines. Cancer Lett. 1990 Sep;53(2-3):103–108. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(90)90201-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shyu K. W., Meng C. L. The inhibitory effect of oral administration of garlic on experimental carcinogenesis in hamster buccal pouches by DMBA painting. Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B. 1987 Apr;11(2):137–147. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sparnins V. L., Barany G., Wattenberg L. W. Effects of organosulfur compounds from garlic and onions on benzo[a]pyrene-induced neoplasia and glutathione S-transferase activity in the mouse. Carcinogenesis. 1988 Jan;9(1):131–134. doi: 10.1093/carcin/9.1.131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Sparnins V. L., Mott A. W., Barany G., Wattenberg L. W. Effects of allyl methyl trisulfide on glutathione S-transferase activity and BP-induced neoplasia in the mouse. Nutr Cancer. 1986;8(3):211–215. doi: 10.1080/01635588609513895. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Steinmetz K. A., Potter J. D. Vegetables, fruit, and cancer. I. Epidemiology. Cancer Causes Control. 1991 Sep;2(5):325–357. doi: 10.1007/BF00051672. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sumiyoshi H., Wargovich M. J. Chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice by naturally occurring organosulfur compounds. Cancer Res. 1990 Aug 15;50(16):5084–5087. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Tadi P. P., Teel R. W., Lau B. H. Organosulfur compounds of garlic modulate mutagenesis, metabolism, and DNA binding of aflatoxin B1. Nutr Cancer. 1991;15(2):87–95. doi: 10.1080/01635589109514116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Unnikrishnan M. C., Kuttan R. Cytotoxicity of extracts of spices to cultured cells. Nutr Cancer. 1988;11(4):251–257. doi: 10.1080/01635588809513995. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Unnikrishnan M. C., Kuttan R. Tumour reducing and anticarcinogenic activity of selected spices. Cancer Lett. 1990 May 15;51(1):85–89. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(90)90235-p. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. WEISBERGER A. S., PENSKY J. Tumor inhibition by a sulfhydryl-blocking agent related to an active principle of garlic (Allium sativum). Cancer Res. 1958 Dec;18(11):1301–1308. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. WEISBERGER A. S., PENSKY J. Tumor-inhibiting effects derived from an active principle of garlic (Allium sativum). Science. 1957 Nov 29;126(3283):1112–1114. doi: 10.1126/science.126.3283.1112-a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. WILLS E. D. Enzyme inhibition by allicin, the active principle of garlic. Biochem J. 1956 Jul;63(3):514–520. doi: 10.1042/bj0630514. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Wargovich M. J. Diallyl sulfide, a flavor component of garlic (Allium sativum), inhibits dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Carcinogenesis. 1987 Mar;8(3):487–489. doi: 10.1093/carcin/8.3.487. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wargovich M. J., Goldberg M. T. Diallyl sulfide. A naturally occurring thioether that inhibits carcinogen-induced nuclear damage to colon epithelial cells in vivo. Mutat Res. 1985 Jul;143(3):127–129. doi: 10.1016/s0165-7992(85)80022-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Wargovich M. J. New dietary anticarcinogens and prevention of gastrointestinal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 1988 Jan;31(1):72–75. doi: 10.1007/BF02552576. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Wargovich M. J., Woods C., Eng V. W., Stephens L. C., Gray K. Chemoprevention of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced esophageal cancer in rats by the naturally occurring thioether, diallyl sulfide. Cancer Res. 1988 Dec 1;48(23):6872–6875. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Wattenberg L. W. Chemoprevention of cancer. Cancer Res. 1985 Jan;45(1):1–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Wattenberg L. W. Inhibition of carcinogenesis by minor anutrient constituents of the diet. Proc Nutr Soc. 1990 Jul;49(2):173–183. doi: 10.1079/pns19900022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Wattenberg L. W., Sparnins V. L., Barany G. Inhibition of N-nitrosodiethylamine carcinogenesis in mice by naturally occurring organosulfur compounds and monoterpenes. Cancer Res. 1989 May 15;49(10):2689–2692. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Weinstein I. B. The scientific basis for carcinogen detection and primary cancer prevention. Cancer. 1981 Mar 1;47(5 Suppl):1133–1141. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19810301)47:5+<1133::aid-cncr2820471312>3.0.co;2-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Yamasaki T., Teel R. W., Lau B. H. Effect of allixin, a phytoalexin produced by garlic, on mutagenesis, DNA-binding and metabolism of aflatoxin B1. Cancer Lett. 1991 Aug;59(2):89–94. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(91)90171-d. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. You W. C., Blot W. J., Chang Y. S., Ershow A. G., Yang Z. T., An Q., Henderson B., Xu G. W., Fraumeni J. F., Jr, Wang T. G. Diet and high risk of stomach cancer in Shandong, China. Cancer Res. 1988 Jun 15;48(12):3518–3523. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. You W. C., Blot W. J., Chang Y. S., Ershow A., Yang Z. T., An Q., Henderson B. E., Fraumeni J. F., Jr, Wang T. G. Allium vegetables and reduced risk of stomach cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1989 Jan 18;81(2):162–164. doi: 10.1093/jnci/81.2.162. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. van den Brandt P. A., Goldbohm R. A., van 't Veer P., Volovics A., Hermus R. J., Sturmans F. A large-scale prospective cohort study on diet and cancer in The Netherlands. J Clin Epidemiol. 1990;43(3):285–295. doi: 10.1016/0895-4356(90)90009-e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Cancer are provided here courtesy of Cancer Research UK

RESOURCES