FIGURE 4.

Allicin reacts with reduced glutathione in vitro and in vivo. Allicin was incubated with GSH (A) or GSSG (B) in a 0.5- or 1-fold molar ratio for 15 or 60 min. Subsequently, GSH and GSSG levels were measured and compared with standard curves. Concentrations of the untreated controls were set to 100%. Levels of reduced (C) and oxidized glutathione (D) were measured in E. coli cells after treatment with allicin for 15 min. E, the GSH:GSSG ratio is increased upon allicin stress. Values are the means and S.D. (error bars) from three biological replicates. Asterisks indicate a p value below 0.05 (*) or 0.01 (**) as determined by an unpaired Student's t test.