Garlic-derived natural polysulfanes as hydrogen sulfide donors: Friend or foe?

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo studies reported the anti-cancer potential of organosulfur compounds (OSCs) as they trigger biological effects leading to cell cycle arrest with accumulation of cells in G2/M, alteration of the microtubular network, modulation of Bcl-2 family protein expression patterns and changes of the redox status. Despite these well-described effects, no OSC derivative is yet undergoing clinical trials even though their chemistry is well understood as OSCs act as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors. H2S is a biological mediator, synthesized through cysteine degradation and modulates vasodilation, cytoprotection, inflammation and angiogenesis. It is well accepted that H2S plays a biphasic pharmacological role: the inhibition of endogenous synthesis of H2S and paradoxically also the use of H2S donors to increase H2S concentration, induce both anti-cancer effects leading therefore to controversial discussions. Altogether, the role of H2S in the anti-cancer action of OSCs remains poorly understood. In this review, we hypothesize that OSCs act through H2S signaling pathways in cancer cells, and that a clearer understanding of the mechanism of action of H2S in OSC-mediated anti-cancer activity is required for further application of these compounds in translational medicine.

• Authors: Esma Yagdi, Claudia Cerella, Mario Dicato, Marc Diederich
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 95 Pg. 219-33 (Sep 2016) ISSN: 1873-6351 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27430419 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Sulfonic Acids
• Hydrogen Sulfide

Topics

• Animals
• Cytoprotection
• Garlic (chemistry)
• Humans
• Hydrogen Sulfide (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Inflammation (prevention & control)
• Sulfonic Acids (chemistry)