ARS | Publication request: SPECIATION EFFECTS OF ALLYL SULFUR COMPOUNDS ON ABERRANT CRYPT FORMATION

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2004
Publication Date: March 4, 2005
Citation: Ross, S.A., Finley, J.W., Leary, P., Gregoire, B., Milner, J. 2005. Speciation effects of allyl sulfur compounds on aberrant crypt formation [abstract]. The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 19(4):A80.

Technical Abstract: Garlic and its associated allyl sulfur compounds have been shown to reduce the incidence of chemically induced breast, colon, skin, uterine, esophagus, and lung cancers. Aqueous suspensions and high exposure to S-allyl cysteine have been shown to inhibit early stage colon carcinogenesis, including a suppression in aberrant crypt foci (ACF). The current study was designed to examine the effect of allyl sulfur compound speciation on ACF. Rats were provided a semi-purified, casein based diet with or without 57 or 570 (micro)mole allyl sulfur as S-allyl cysteine (SAC), diallyl disulfide (DADS) or S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC). Rats were fed their respective diet for 3 weeks prior to treatment with dimethylhydrazine (25 mg/kg i.p. per wk for 2 wks). All rats remained on their assigned diet for 13 wks prior to determination of ACF and aberrant crypt number (AC). Food intake and weight gain were not influenced by treatment. Geometric mean ACF were 136 for controls, 118 and 112 for SAC, 90 and 68 for DADS, 93 and 79 for SAMC for diets containing 57 and 570 (micro)mole/kg respectively. All treatments, except 57 (micro)mole/kg SAC, significantly lowered ACF compared to controls (p<0.05). AC were significantly reduced by DADS and SAMC at both concentrations tested. None of the allyl sulfur compounds influenced liver quinone reductase and thioridoxin reductase activities. This study reveals that all allyl sulfur compounds are not equivalent in retarding early preneoplastic markers for colon cancer.