Mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of garlic bioactives

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 106 - 115
• Main Authors: Shouk, Reem, Abdou, Aya, Shetty, Kalidas, Sarkar, Dipayan, Eid, Ali H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-02-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Allicin; Allium sativum; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cysteine - analogs & derivatives; Cysteine - pharmacology; Cysteine - therapeutic use; Experimental diseases; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; garlic; Garlic - chemistry; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; S-Allyl cysteine; Sulfinic Acids - pharmacology; Sulfinic Acids - therapeutic use; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Hypertension; SBP; Systolic blood pressure; garlic; Allicin; ACE; S-Allyl cysteine; Diastolic blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; CVD; DBP; SAC; Vascular smooth muscle cell; Angiotensin-converting enzyme; VSMC; Allium sativum; Monocotyledones; Cysteine; Nutrition; Allium sativum garlic; Mechanism; Liliaceae; Aminoacid; Angiospermae; Antihypertensive agent; Spermatophyta; Garlic; S-Allyl Cysteine
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.12.005

Abstract Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide with hypertension being a major contributing factor to cardiovascular disease–associated mortality. On a population level, non-pharmacological approaches, such as alternative/complementary medicine, including phytochemicals, have the potential to ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure. Several epidemiological studies suggest an antihypertensive effect of garlic ( Allium sativum ) and of many its bioactive components. The aim of this review is to present an in-depth discussion regarding the molecular, biochemical and cellular rationale underlying the antihypertensive properties of garlic and its bioactive constituents with a primary focus on S-allyl cysteine and allicin. Key studies, largely from PubMed, were selected and screened to develop a comprehensive understanding of the specific role of garlic and its bioactive constituents in the management of hypertension. We also reviewed recent advances focusing on the role of garlic bioactives, S-allyl cysteine and allicin, in modulating various parameters implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension. These parameters include oxidative stress, nitric oxide bioavailability, hydrogen sulfide production, angiotensin converting enzyme activity, expression of nuclear factor– κ B and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. This review suggests that garlic and garlic derived bioactives have significant medicinal properties with the potential for ameliorating hypertension and associated morbidity; however, further clinical and epidemiological studies are required to determine completely the specific physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in disease prevention and management.