Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
The Role of Natural and Synthetic Sulfur Compounds in Human...
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

The Role of Natural and Synthetic Sulfur Compounds in Human Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 5179

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eugenia Piragine

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 6, 56121 Pisa, Italy
Interests: cardiovascular pharmacology; gasotransmitters; hydrogen sulfide (H2S); meta-analysis; systematic review
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Sulfur metabolism plays a central role in redox biochemistry and tissue homeostasis in humans. Increasing evidence indicates an imbalance in sulfur metabolism in many diseases, from cardiovascular to metabolic disorders. Therefore, the use of sulfur compounds is emerging as a possible therapeutic strategy to restore the balance of sulfur metabolism, preserve human health and slow the progression of disease. Of note, some sulfur compounds can act as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors. This is an intriguing aspect of the pharmacology of sulfur compounds. In fact, the gasotransmitter H2S exhibits a plethora of beneficial effects: it enhances the endogenous antioxidant defense system, counteracts the inflammatory process, promotes vasorelaxation, and slows cellular senescence. This Special Issue aims to evaluate the role of sulfur compounds in human health and diseases to support a possible clinical use of natural and synthetic sulfur compounds in the prevention and treatment of multiple pathological conditions.

Dr. Eugenia Piragine
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sulfur compounds
  • sulfur metabolism
  • hydrogen sulfide
  • H2S-donors
  • human health
  • human disease
  • nutraceuticals

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 2675 KiB  
Article
The Anticancer Effects of the Garlic Organosulfide Diallyl Trisulfide through the Attenuation of B[a]P-Induced Oxidative Stress, AhR Expression, and DNA Damage in Human Premalignant Breast Epithelial (MCF-10AT1) Cells
by Dominique T. Ferguson, Equar Taka, Syreeta L. Tilghman, Tracy Womble, Bryan V. Redmond, Shasline Gedeon, Hernan Flores-Rozas, Sarah L. Reed, Karam F. A. Soliman, Konan J. W. Kanga and Selina F. Darling-Reed
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020923 - 11 Jan 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2455
Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon associated with breast cancer. Our lab previously reported that the organosulfur compound (OSC), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), chemoprevention mechanism works through the induction of cell cycle arrest and a reduction in oxidative stress and DNA [...] Read more.
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon associated with breast cancer. Our lab previously reported that the organosulfur compound (OSC), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), chemoprevention mechanism works through the induction of cell cycle arrest and a reduction in oxidative stress and DNA damage in normal breast epithelial cells. We hypothesize that DATS will inhibit B[a]P-induced cancer initiation in premalignant breast epithelial (MCF-10AT1) cells. In this study, we evaluated the ability of DATS to attenuate B[a]P-induced neoplastic transformation in MCF-10AT1 cells by measuring biological endpoints such as proliferation, clonogenicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) DNA damage levels, as well as DNA repair and antioxidant proteins. The results indicate that B[a]P induced proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels, as well as increasing AhR, ARNT/HIF-1β, and CYP1A1 protein expression compared with the control in MCF-10AT1 cells. B[a]P/DATS’s co-treatment (CoTx) inhibited cell proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, AhR protein expression, and 8-OHdG levels compared with B[a]P alone and attenuated all the above-mentioned B[a]P-induced changes in protein expression, causing a chemopreventive effect. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that DATS prevents premalignant breast cells from undergoing B[a]P-induced neoplastic transformation, thus providing more evidence for its chemopreventive effects in breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Natural and Synthetic Sulfur Compounds in Human Health and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

0 pages, 1201 KiB  
Review
Transsulfuration Pathway Products and H2S-Donors in Hyperhomocysteinemia: Potential Strategies Beyond Folic Acid
by Lorenzo Flori, Sara Veneziano, Alma Martelli, Eugenia Piragine and Vincenzo Calderone
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136430 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 8
Abstract
The transsulfuration pathway plays a central role in the regulation of sulfur metabolism and contributes to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Starting from homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine via the methionine cycle, this metabolic pathway supports the biosynthesis of cysteine [...] Read more.
The transsulfuration pathway plays a central role in the regulation of sulfur metabolism and contributes to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Starting from homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine via the methionine cycle, this metabolic pathway supports the biosynthesis of cysteine and other downstream products, such as taurine, serine, reduced glutathione and the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The most common disruption of this pathway leads to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), a well-known risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic diseases and other pathological conditions. In this context, identifying effective pharmacological strategies is crucial. Based on both preclinical and clinical evidence, this review provides an updated overview on the role of folates in restoring transsulfuration balance in HHcy and explores the potential effects of downstream products (such as serine, taurine, and precursors of glutathione) under HHcy conditions. Finally, it examines the pharmacological properties of H2S-donors in cultured cells exposed to HHcy and in animal models of HHcy. This summary of the literature offers new perspectives for the treatment of HHcy and the prevention of its associated multiorgan complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Natural and Synthetic Sulfur Compounds in Human Health and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 6486 KiB  
Review
Pills of Multi-Target H2S Donating Molecules for Complex Diseases
by Angela Corvino, Antonia Scognamiglio, Ferdinando Fiorino, Elisa Perissutti, Vincenzo Santagada, Giuseppe Caliendo and Beatrice Severino
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(13), 7014; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137014 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
Among the various drug discovery methods, a very promising modern approach consists in designing multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) able to modulate multiple targets of interest, including the pathways where hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved. By incorporating an H2S donor moiety [...] Read more.
Among the various drug discovery methods, a very promising modern approach consists in designing multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) able to modulate multiple targets of interest, including the pathways where hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved. By incorporating an H2S donor moiety into a native drug, researchers have been able to simultaneously target multiple therapeutic pathways, resulting in improved treatment outcomes. This review gives the reader some pills of successful multi-target H2S-donating molecules as worthwhile tools to combat the multifactorial nature of complex disorders, such as inflammatory-based diseases and cancer, as well as cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Natural and Synthetic Sulfur Compounds in Human Health and Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop