Search Results (50)

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are important contributors to mango volatile profiles but are challenging to analyze due to their trace concentrations, susceptibility to transformation, and interference from the complex fruit matrix. This study investigated how key extraction parameters—material chemistry, surface area-to-volume ratio, sorbent volume, temperature, and time—affect VSC extraction using mango as a complex botanical model. Three sorptive extraction configurations were evaluated: HiSorb (PDMS and DVB/CWR/PDMS) and a high-capacity combined headspace thin-film solid-phase microextraction and stir bar sorptive extraction (HS-TFSPME-SBSE) system. The optimized HS-TFSPME-SBSE configuration (40 °C, 150 min) provided the broadest VSC coverage, achieving limits of detection of 0.1–0.6 μg/kg and good linearity (R² > 0.9927). In spiked mango puree (10 μg/kg), HS-TFSPME-SBSE detected methyl mercaptan and diallyl trisulfide, which were not recovered using HiSorb (PDMS). Application to three mango cultivars (Golden Honey, Sindhura, and Palmer) revealed broader VSC profiles and enabled differentiation of cultivars and tissues (flesh and peel) through principal component analysis (PCA). Distinct cultivar-associated VSC patterns were observed, including elevated dimethyl disulfide in Golden Honey and ethyl 3-(methylthio)-cis-2-propenoate in Sindhura. These findings demonstrate the suitability of HS-TFSPME-SBSE for sensitive profiling of trace VSCs in complex fruit matrices. Full article

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) are major allicin-derived organosulfur compounds associated with biological activity and sensitivity to processing conditions. This study aimed to quantify DADS and DATS in commercial garlic products using gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and to evaluate the effects of product formulation and processing on their concentrations. Fresh garlic, marinated garlic, garlic oil, tinctures, powders, dragees, and oil- and granulate-based capsules were analyzed. The GC-FID method showed excellent linearity for both analytes (R² = 0.9999). Marked differences were observed among the investigated product types, and selected pairwise comparisons indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Garlic oil contained the highest concentrations of both compounds, with mean DADS and DATS levels of 179.98 and 102.26 mg/g, respectively. In contrast, the mean concentrations in all other product groups were substantially lower, reaching 0.01068 mg/g for DADS and 0.03649 mg/g for DATS. Oil-based formulations showed markedly higher DADS concentrations than powder- and granulate-based products, whereas DATS was relatively more dominant in powder-based formulations. Marination and thermal processing were associated with reduced diallyl sulfide levels. These findings demonstrate that the investigated commercial garlic products differed substantially in their DADS and DATS content, mainly depending on formulation and processing. The pronounced variability observed among the investigated commercial products highlights the need for improved analytical standardization and quality control of garlic-based products. Full article

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a volatile natural sulfur-containing compound derived from garlic, possesses antifungal and preservative potential. However, its biocontrol efficacy against postharvest gray mold of tomato and the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit quality maintenance remain unclear. In this study, we systematically investigated the inhibitory effect of DATS fumigation on postharvest gray mold, its role in fruit quality maintenance, and the associated molecular mechanisms through in vitro antifungal assays, physiological and biochemical measurements, transcriptome sequencing, and correlation analysis. In vitro experiments showed that DATS at 50 μL L⁻¹ completely inhibited spore germination and germ tube elongation of Botrytis cinerea in a concentration-dependent manner, and disrupted spore membrane integrity (FDA-positive spores dropped from 73.4% to 2.9% at 50 μL L⁻¹). In vivo experiments demonstrated that Bc + DATS treatment completely inhibited lesion development compared to the control Bc, enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase (e.g., CAT activity 2.20-fold higher than Bc on day 3), decreased malondialdehyde accumulation (0.65-fold of Bc on day 4), and delayed the declines in total soluble solids, titratable acidity, soluble sugars and vitamin C content (VC content 4.14-fold higher than Bc on day 4). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that DATS treatment up-regulated genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and phenylalanine metabolism, while down-regulating core MAPK kinases and histidine decarboxylase. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations between the expression of these pathway genes and antioxidant enzyme activities, vitamin C content, and lesion diameter. Collectively, DATS achieves effective control of postharvest gray mold and maintenance of fruit quality in tomato through direct antifungal activity, synergistic activation of hormone/MAPK signaling, reprogramming of phenylalanine metabolism, and modulation of membrane lipid homeostasis. This study provides a theoretical and practical basis for developing DATS as a green postharvest preservative to reduce food loss and ensure food safety. Full article

Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are known to cause characteristic—and sometimes unpleasant—body odour. Human presence may influence the odour of indoor air; however, the contribution of skin-derived VSCs has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study aimed to elucidate the regional and whole-body dermal emission rates of VSCs—diallyl disulfide (DADS), allyl methyl sulfide (AMS), ethyl mercaptan (EMT), allyl mercaptan (AMT) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS)—by conducting simultaneous and multi-point measurements of dermal emissions from the human skin surface to assess their potential impact on indoor air quality. Dermal emission fluxes of VSCs were measured at 14 anatomical regions of 12 healthy young subjects using a passive flux sampler coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. These fluxes were converted to emission rates using regional body surface area, and the whole-body emission rates were subsequently used to estimate indoor air concentrations for comparison with the odour thresholds of each VSC. The results showed that although some regional differences in emission rates were observed among subjects, the large inter-individual variability ultimately led to no significant differences in whole-body emission rates of VSCs between males and females. Using the average whole-body emission rates across 12 subjects, the estimated indoor air concentrations of VSCs followed the descending order: EMT > AMT >> DMTS > AMS > DADS. The odour quotient was used to evaluate the impact of skin-derived VSCs on indoor air quality and indicated that EMT consistently contributes to indoor odour. Full article

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has served as a food source and medicinal agent for over thousands of years. Bioactive constituents, including allicin, diallyl sulfide/disulfide/trisulfide, ajoene, and S-allyl-cysteine, demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antineoplastic, antimicrobial and neuroprotective properties. Convergent mechanistic evidence suggests the modulation of redox homeostasis, attenuation of pro-inflammatory signaling, regulation of platelet activation, and induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in tumor models. Computational studies, in conjunction with wet-lab data, offer molecular-level insights and guide candidate prioritization. Density functional theory elucidates radical-scavenging pathways and electronic descriptors that account for redox activity. Structure-based methods, including docking, molecular dynamics, and MM-GBSA, elucidate potential interactions between organosulfur scaffolds and enzymes or receptors pertinent to pharmacological effects. In silico ADME/Tox platforms predict generally favorable oral absorption for hydrophobic allyl sulfides, while polar derivatives exhibit more limited brain penetration. Emerging AI/ML pipelines combine network pharmacology with QSAR to focus on important targets and chemical types, while also spotting potential development. Formulation strategies, including nanoencapsulation and controlled-release systems, are utilized to stabilize labile thiosulfinates and modulate hydrogen-sulfide-releasing profiles, with potential applications in various disease conditions. Significant challenges encompass the standardization of preparations, variability in pharmacokinetics, heterogeneity in dose–response relationships, and interactions between drugs and nutrients or other drugs. The integration of mechanistic, computational, and formulation insights delineates a systematic approach to progress garlic-derived agents from diverse natural products to reproducible, mechanism-guided pharmaceuticals. Full article

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the aging population. Gender studies show that aging is associated with loss of protection from AKI in the female population. While ER stress contributes to IRI-induced AKI in the young, ER regulation during IR in the aged kidney is unclear. Because current evidence suggests hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) modulates ER stress, we investigated whether exogenous supplementation of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an H₂S donor, mitigates AKI in aged female kidneys. Wild-type (WT, C57BL/6J) mice aged 75–78 weeks were treated with or without DATS before and after renal IRI. IRI increased ER stress proteins, inflammation, and fibrosis markers in the IRI kidney compared to the control. DATS mitigated ER stress, and reduced inflammation and fibrosis markers in the IRI kidney. Further, IRI kidneys demonstrated reduced blood flow, vascularity, angiogenesis, increased resistive index (RI), and reduced function. DATS treatment upregulated PI3K, AKT, p-mTOR, and pMAPK signaling to stimulate angiogenesis, which improved vascular density, blood flow, and renal function. Together, our results suggest that DATS rescues the aged female kidney IRI by modulating ER stress and upregulation of angiogenesis. Full article

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenous transmitter with the potential to regulate aqueous humor dynamics and protect retinal neurons from degeneration. The aim of the present study was two-fold: (a) to evaluate the release of H₂S from two polysulfides, diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS); and (b) to investigate their ocular hypotensive actions in normotensive male and female rabbits in the presence and absence of GSH. Materials and Methods: H₂S was quantified hourly for up to 6 h using a H₂S-Biosensor (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, Fl). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed in normotensive New Zealand Albino rabbits using a pneumotonometer (model 30 classic; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Depew, NY, USA). Results: In the presence of GSH, there was an increase in the in vitro release of H₂S produced by DADS and DATS. Both DADS and DATS also caused a dose-dependent reduction in IOP in male and female rabbits, in both treated and untreated eyes. For instance, in male animals, the presence of GSH (3% and 5%) significantly (p < 0.05, n = 5) enhanced the ocular hypotensive action of DADS (2%) and DATS (2%) from 14.02 ± 2.89% to 18.67 ± 5.6% and from 16.22 ± 3.48 to 23.62 ± 5.79%, respectively. Conclusions: GSH enhanced both H₂S release and ocular hypotensive action of the polysulfides in a manner that was dependent on the number of sulfur atoms present in each polysulfide. Furthermore, female animals were less sensitive to the IOP-lowering action of the polysulfides, when compared to their male counterparts. Full article

Traditionally, garlic has a valuable role in preventing and reducing the incidence of many diseases and pathophysiological disorders. Consequently, some researchers have focused on the beneficial cardiovascular properties of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), the most potent polysulfide isolated from garlic. Therefore, in this review, we collected the available data on DATS, its biochemical synthesis, metabolism and pharmacokinetics, and gathered the current knowledge and the role of DATS in cardiovascular diseases. Overall, this review summarizes the cardioprotective effects of DATS and brings together all previous findings on its protective molecular mechanisms, which are mainly based on the potent anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential of this polysulfide. Our review is an important cornerstone for further basic and clinical research on DATS as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of numerous heart diseases. Full article

Garlic is a vegetable with numerous pro-health properties, showing high antioxidant capacity, and cytotoxicity for various malignant cells. The inhibition of cell proliferation by garlic is mainly attributed to the organosulfur compounds (OSCs), but it is far from obvious which constituents of garlic indeed participate in the antioxidant and cytotoxic action of garlic extracts. This study aimed to obtain insight into this question by examining the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of six OSCs and five phenolics present in garlic. Three common assays of antioxidant activity were employed (ABTS^● decolorization, DPPH^● decolorization, and FRAP). Cytotoxicity of both classes of compounds to PEO1 and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells, and MRC-5 fibroblasts was compared. Negligible antioxidant activities of the studied OSCs (alliin, allicin, S-allyl-D-cysteine, allyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, and diallyl trisulfide) were observed, excluding the possibility of any significant contribution of these compounds to the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of garlic extracts estimated by the commonly used reductive assays. Comparable cytotoxic activities of OSCs and phenolics (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, gallic acids, and quercetin) indicate that both classes of compounds may contribute to the cytotoxic action of garlic. Full article

Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury, a prevalent pathological condition in medical practice, presents significant treatment challenges. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), acknowledged as the third gas signaling molecule, profoundly impacts various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Extensive research has demonstrated that H₂S can mitigate I/R damage across multiple organs and tissues. This review investigates the protective effects of H₂S in preventing I/R damage in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, intestines, lungs, stomach, spinal cord, testes, eyes, and other tissues. H₂S provides protection against I/R damage by alleviating inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress; inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial autophagy and dysfunction; and regulating microRNAs. Significant advancements in understanding the mechanisms by which H₂S reduces I/R damage have led to the development and synthesis of H₂S-releasing agents such as diallyl trisulfide-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DATS-MSN), AP39, zofenopril, and ATB-344, offering a new therapeutic avenue for I/R injury. Full article

Exposure to B[a]P, the most characterized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, significantly increases breast cancer risk. Our lab has previously reported that diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a garlic organosulfur compound (OSC) with chemopreventive and cell cycle arrest properties, reduces lipid peroxides and DNA damage in normal breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cells. In this study, we evaluated the ability of DATS to block the B[a]P-induced initiation of carcinogenesis in MCF-10A cells by examining changes in proliferation, clonogenic formation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, and protein expression of ARNT/HIF-1β, CYP1A1, and DNA POLβ. The study results indicate that B[a]P increased proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels, as well as increasing the protein expression of ARNT/HIF-1β and CYP1A1 compared to the control. Conversely, DATS/B[a]P co-treatment (CoTx) inhibited cell proliferation, clonogenic formation, ROS formation, and 8-OHdG levels compared to B[a]P alone. Treatment with DATS significantly inhibited (p < 0.0001) AhR expression, implicated in the development and progression of breast cancer. The CoTx also attenuated all the above-mentioned B[a]P-induced changes in protein expression. At the same time, it increased DNA POLβ protein expression, which indicates increased DNA repair, thus causing a chemopreventive effect. These results provide evidence for the chemopreventive effects of DATS in breast cancer prevention. Full article

Despite advances in therapeutic approaches, the five-year survival rate for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients is still less than fifty percent. Research has indicated that the consumption of Allium vegetables or processed garlic containing diallyl trisulfide (DATS) can lower the risk of multiple types of cancer. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of DATS against HNSCC have not been thoroughly explored until the current study. In this research, it was found that DATS notably curtailed the growth and viability of HNSCC cells. Additionally, DATS triggered a significant G2/M cell cycle arrest in these cells, accumulating cyclin B1, Cip1/p21, and Ser-10 phospho-histone H3—this was indicative of mitotic arrest attenuated by NAC pretreatment, suggesting the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction. The production of ROS induced by DATS led to DNA damage and apoptosis, a process associated with elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, along with reduced XIAP. When HNSCC cells were exposed to pharmacological concentrations of DATS, it resulted in the suppression of cancer stem cell (CSC) populations, as indicated by a decrease in the CD133^high/CD44^high cell fraction, reduced aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity, inhibited spheroid formation and downregulated SOX2 and Oct4 expression. Furthermore, the administration of DATS to tumor xenografts demonstrated its in vivo capacity to hinder CSCs. Further, DATS treatment inhibited the growth of UMSCC-22B head and neck cancer tumor xenograft in immunocompromised mice. Overall, DATS inhibited cell proliferation; induced cell cycle mitotic arrest and apoptosis involving DNA damage through ROS generation; reduced the CSC fraction and spheroid formation; and downregulated SOX2 and Oct4 expression. More importantly, DATS inhibited HNSCC tumor growth and CSC fraction in vivo. Thus, DATS could be a potential anticancer agent that can be used against head and neck cancer. Full article

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

Essential oils extracted from plant sources along with their biologically active components may have negative effects on insects. Diallyl trisulfide (DAT) is an active component of garlic essential oil, and it exhibits multi-targeted activity against many organisms. Previously we reported that DAT induces male infertility and leads to apyrene and eupyrene sperm dysfunction in Sitotroga cerealella. In this study, we conducted an analysis of testis-specific RNA-Seq data and identified 449 downregulated genes and 60 upregulated genes in the DAT group compared to the control group. The downregulated genes were significantly enriched in the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Furthermore, DAT caused a significant reduction in mRNA expression of proteasome regulatory subunit particles required for ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated proteins as well as decreased the expression profile of proteasome core particles, including β1, β2, and β5. Sperm physiological analysis showed that DAT decreased the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome and formed aggresomes in spermatozoa. Overall, our findings suggest that DAT impairs the testis proteasome, ultimately causing male infertility characterized by oligoasthenoteratospermia due to disruption in sperm proteasome assembly in S. cerealella. Full article

Chinese spicy cabbage (CSC) is a common traditional fermented vegetable mainly made of Chinese cabbage. In addition to eating raw, boiling and stir-frying are the most common cooking methods for CSC. To identify the impacts of boiling or stir-frying on the quality of CSC, the physicochemical properties, flavor compounds, and sensory properties of CSC were analyzed. A total of 47 volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Sulfide was determined as the main flavor compound of CSC, mainly contributed by cabbage, garlic, and onion odors. The content of sulfide decreased significantly after cooking. Nonanal, geranyl acetate, and linalool were newly generated after boiling with odor activity value (OAV) > 1, and contributed fatty, sweet, fruity, and floral odors to BL-CSC. 1-Octen-3-one, 1-octen-3-ol, octanal, nonanal, and (E)-2-nonenal were newly generated after stir-frying with OAV > 1, and contributed mushroom, fatty, and green odors to SF-CSC. Diallyl trisulfide, nonanal, (E)-β-ionone, β-sesquiphellandrene, and (E)-2-decenal were considered as the potential key aroma compounds (KACs) to distinguish the CSCs after different heat treatment. After cooking, the total titratable acidity of CSC increased and the sensory properties changed significantly. This study provides valuable information and guidance on the sensory and flavor changes of thermal processing fermented vegetables. Full article