Allixin induction and accumulation by light irradiation.

Allixin, a phytoalexin isolated from garlic, was induced by irradiating fresh garlic cloves with sunlight or UV light. Induced allixin was analyzed by HPLC, and the accumulated amounts of allixin were 3.1-6.3 microg/g under experimental conditions.     

Pharmacokinetic study of allixin, a phytoalexin produced by garlic

The pharmacokinetic behavior of allixin (3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-penthyl-4H-pyran-4-one) was investigated in an experimental animal, mice. Allixin was administered using an inclusion compound because the solubility of allixin in aqueous solution is very low. The allixin content in serum and in the organs of administered animals was analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. Most of the administered allixin disappeared within 2 h, and the bioavailability of allixin was estimated to be 31% by obtained area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC). The metabolites of allixin were studied using the metabolic enzyme fraction of liver and liver homogenate. Several new peaks corresponding to allixin metabolites were observed in the HPLC chromatoprofile. The chemical structure of the metabolites was investigated using LC-MS and NMR. Three of them were identified as allixin metabolites having a hydroxylated pentyl group.     

Volatile compounds and odor preferences of ground beef added with garlic and red wine,and irradiated with charcoal pack

Irradiation is the most efficient non-thermal technology for improving hygienic quality and extending the shelf-life of food products. One of the adverse effects of food irradiation, however, is off-flavor production, which significantly affects the sensory preferences for certain foods. In this study, garlic (5%, w/w) and red wine (1:1, w/w) were added to ground beef to increase the radiation sensitivity of pathogens and improve meat odor/flavor. Samples were irradiated at 0 or 5 kGy in the presence of charcoal pack. SPME-GC–MS analysis was performed to measure the changes in the volatile compounds and sensory characteristics of the samples. The amount of total volatile compounds produced from ground beef was greater when the sample was irradiated. When garlic and red wine were added to the ground beef, the amount of volatile compounds significantly increased, and the amount of volatile compounds increased even further after irradiation. However, when the samples were irradiated with charcoal pack, the amount of volatile compounds decreased significantly. Sensory evaluation indicated that charcoal pack significantly increased the odor preferences for both irradiated and non-irradiated ground beef added with garlic. These results indicated that addition of charcoal pack to ground beef could reduce off-odor problems induced by irradiation, and this effect was consistent even when certain additives such as garlic and red wine were added.     

5-Aminolevulinic Acid-induced Protoporphyrin IX Levels in Tissue of Human Malignant Brain Tumors

Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) produced from exogenous, orally administered 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) displays high tumor-selective uptake and is being successfully employed for fluorescence-guided resection (FGR) of human malignant gliomas. Furthermore, the phototoxicity of PpIX can be utilized for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of brain tumors, which has been shown previously. Here, the absolute PpIX concentration in human brain tissue was investigated following oral ALA administration (20 mg kg⁻¹ b.w.). An extraction procedure was used to quantify PpIX in macroscopic tissue samples, weighing 0.013–0.214 g, obtained during FGR. The PpIX concentration was significantly higher in vital grade IV tumors (5.8 ± 4.8 μm , mean ± SD, range 0–28.2 μm , n = 8) as compared with grade III tumors (0.2 ± 0.4 μm , mean ± SD, range 0–0.9 μm , n = 4). There was also a large heterogeneity within grade IV tumors with PpIX displaying significantly lower levels in infiltration zones and necrotic regions as compared with vital tumor parts. The average PpIX concentration in vital grade IV tumor parts was in the range previously shown sufficient for PDT-induced tissue damage following irradiation. However, the feasibility of PDT for grade III brain tumors and for grade IV brain tumors displaying mainly necrotic tissue areas without solid tumor parts needs to be further investigated.     

Development of an analytical method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives

Garlic and onion, are well known for their medical value, especially in against cancer and anticardiovacular diseases. "Alliins" (S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulphoxides) are sources of major active compounds in Allium plants. Se incorporation into garlic significantly increases activities of garlic in cancer prevention and inhibition. Selenomethionine, selenocysteine and Se-methylselenocysteine have been identified in garlic and onion. Previously we identified gamma-glutamyl-Se-methyl-L-selenocysteine, in extracts of garlic cultivated in Se-rich soil [Med. Res. Rev. 16 (1) (1996) 111], suggesting the possible existence of Se-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine selenoxides (Se-"alliins") in garlic. Several comparative experiments were carried out to demonstrate the existence of Se-"alliins" in Se-enriched garlic and onion. We found that there was one similar time-dependent Se signal in HPLC-inductively coupled plasma MS chromatograms of cold-water extracts of freeze-dried garlic powder and fresh garlic. This signal was lost when the extracts of garlic powder and fresh garlic were stored for 1 day at >4 degrees C, but remained in fresh onion extract at the same storage conditions. These phenomena and possible mechanisms are discussed. An additional experiment showed that Allium species cultivated in Se-rich soil might contain two different Se-"alliins".     

Towards the electrochemical quantification of the strength of garlic

A simple but sensitive technique has been demonstrated towards the electroanalytical quantification of the strength of garlic. This technique can also be used to quantify dialkyldisulfides. The cyclic voltammetry of bromide was found to be a sensitive electrochemical probe, electrogenerated bromine reacting with dialkyldisulfides to catalytically regenerate bromide, resulting in a significant increase in peak current. A linear response of current vs. concentration was observed between 0.1 and 15 mM dipropyldisulfide at edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) electrodes; a smaller range up to ca. 5 mM was available at screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), with a detection limit (from 3σ) of 0.067 mM. The response of diallyldisulfide was found to be essentially identical. Shaking garlic puree in acetonitrile for 5 minutes, followed by dilution with water then recording the voltammetry at the cheap, disposable SPCE gave a linear trend in current with respect to the quantity of garlic present, corresponding to the diallyldisulfide extracted. This has potential applications in monitoring the garlic content of medicinal supplements, batch-to-batch variation and the stability of garlic during storage.     

High-performance ion-pair chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of alliin,deoxyalliin, allicin and dipeptide precursors in garlic products using multiple mass spectrometry and UV detection

The quality of garlic and garlic products is usually related to their alliin content and allicin release potential. Until now no analytical method was able to quantify simultaneously allicin, its direct precursor alliin (S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide), SAC (S-allyl-L-cysteine) as well as various dipeptides that apparently serve as storage compounds in garlic. It is well known that all these intermediates are involved in the allicin biosynthetic pathway. A simple and rapid HPLC method suitable for routine analysis was developed using eluents containing an ion-pairing reagent. Particularly, heptanesulfonate as ion-pairing reagent guarantees a sufficient separation between alliin and the more retained dipeptides at very low pH. Allicin was eluted after 18 min on a 150 x 3 mm column. Synthetic reference compounds were characterized by the same chromatographic method using a diode-array UV detector and an ion trap mass spectrometer (electrospray ionization) in the multiple MS mode. In routine analysis of garlic bulbs, powders and other products, the diode-array detector is sufficient for a relevant quantification. Our method has been used in studies to improve the quality of garlic and its derived products.     

Determination of sulfite in dried garlic by reversed-phase ion-pairing liquid chromatography with post-column detection

A method is described for determining sulfite in dried garlic. Garlic is extracted with an HCl solution to inhibit the formation of allicin, which interferes with the determination of sulfite. After cleanup of the extract on a C18 solid-phase extraction column, sulfite is converted to hydroxymethylsulfonate (HMS) by adding formaldehyde and heating to 50 degrees C. HMS is determined by reversed-phase ion-pairing liquid chromatography with post-column detection. The post-column reaction system consists of the addition of KOH to convert HMS to sulfite ion, followed by the addition of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) to produce 5-mercapto-2-nitrobenzoic acid which is detected spectrophotometrically at 450 nm. Background levels in unsulfited dried garlic equivalent to < 20 ppm SO2 were found. Recoveries of HMS from spiked garlic averaged 94.8% with a coefficient of variation of 3.8%. Sulfite was found in 13 of 21 samples of dried garlic produced in China, with sulfite ranging from 114 to 445 ppm. Sulfite was found in 60% of commercial dried garlic products purchased locally. The suitability of the Monier-Williams method for determining sulfite in garlic is discussed.     

Development and validation of a thin-layer chromatography-densitometric method for the quantitation of alliin from garlic (Allium sativum) and its formulations

A selective, precise, and accurate high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method has been proposed for the analysis of garlic and its formulations for their alliin content. The method involves densitometric evaluation of alliin after resolving it by HPTLC on silica gel plates with n-butanol-acetic acid-water (6 + 2 + 2, v/v) as the mobile phase. For densitometric evaluation, peak areas were recorded at 540 nm after derivatizing the resolved bands with ninhydrin reagent. The relation between the concentration of alliin and corresponding peak areas was found to be linear within the range of 250 to 1500 ng/spot. The method was validated for precision (interday and intraday), repeatability, and accuracy. Mean recovery was 98.36%. The method was applied for the quantitation of alliin in bulbs of Allium sativum Linn. (garlic) and its formulations. The proposed TLC method was found to be precise, specific, sensitive, and accurate and can be used for routine quality control of garlic and its formulations.     

基于化学模式识别的大蒜傅里叶变换红外光谱指纹图谱多样性

以不同地理居群的大蒜为研究对象,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱法获取各样品的红外谱图及不同波数下各样品的透过率数据,运用主成分分析及聚类分析等统计学方法对谱图数据进行了比较分析。结果发现,不同地理居群大蒜的红外指纹图谱存在差异,统计学分析结果显示25个品种大致可分为4大类(其中2个样品,4号及25号与这4类间有较大差异),此现象一定程度上反映了大蒜种植地居群环境对大蒜理化性质的影响。     

溶剂转移-气相色谱-质谱法和选择洗脱-气相色谱法测定大蒜中289种农药多残留

以溶剂转移净化为核心步骤,建立了一种适用于大蒜样品中农药多残留分析的前处理方法(方法I),配以一个辅助方法(方法II),构成大蒜中常见289种农药多残留的分析体系(方法I283种,方法II6种)。方法I中,样品用乙腈-水溶液提取,盐析分配,溶剂转移和固相萃取(SPE)净化后进行气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)分析;方法II中,样品用无水Na2SO4配合乙酸乙酯均质研磨,超声波辅助提取,提取液经Primary Secondary Amine (PSA)粉末分散固相萃取和LC-Si柱选择洗脱净化后进行GC分析。GC-MS采用选择离子监测(SIM)方式,GC采用火焰光度检测器(FPD)检测,外标法定量。方法简便、快速,通过优化前处理和上机条件,在最优条件下进行测试,方法的定量限(S/N≥10)为0.01～0.05 mg/kg。方法I中,在加标水平为0.02、0.20 mg/kg时,回收率为52%～163%,其中回收率在70%～120%之间的占88%,相对标准偏差为2.4%～18%;方法II中,在加标水平为0.01、0.02、0.10、0.20 mg/kg时,回收率为70%～111%,相对标准偏差为3.2%～9.3%。详细描述了实验模型的构建,并对GC-MS灵敏度的提高提出了新的见解。该方法准确、灵敏、快速,可满足大蒜中多种农药残留的检测要求。     

Biosensoric flow-through method for the determination of cysteine sulfoxides

Cysteine sulfoxides are known for their canceroprotective and antioxidant potential and have been detected in several plants, mainly those belonging to the leek family (Alliaceae). A number of these plants are used as herbal remedies, spices, or vegetables, including garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa) and leek (Allium porrum). Determination of the quality and pharmacological activity of garlic-containing herbal remedies produced from garlic powder is by measurement of their content of the cysteine sulfoxide alliin. A convenient method allowing reliable routine estimation of the alliin levels present in the fresh plant material through to the final remedy is urgently required. The newly developed flow-through method described in this paper was designed in order to fulfill this demand. In contrast to conventional HPLC methods, neither a pre-column derivatization nor a chromatographic separation are required allowing a high throughput of samples. This technique is based on immobilized alliinase (EC 4.4.1.4), which was combined with an ammonia gas electrode mounted in a miniaturized flow-through cell. The lower detection limit obtained for alliin was 3.7×10⁻⁷ M alliin. High specificity for alliin was demonstrated for the electrode and a variety of garlic samples including garlic powders, dry extracts and garlic tablets were analyzed successfully. Results obtained with the new method showed a good correlation with those obtained with conventional HPLC methods. In conclusion, the flow-through method provides a valuable method for quality control of garlic preparations and screening plant materials for their cysteine sulfoxide-related health potential.     

Comprehensive Metabolite Profiling in Genetic Resources of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Collected from Different Geographical Regions

Garlic (Allium sativum) is the second most important Allium crop that has been used as a vegetable and condiment from ancient times due to its characteristic flavor and taste. Although garlic is a sterile plant that reproduces vegetatively through cloves, garlic shows high biodiversity, as well as phenotypic plasticity and environmental adaptation capacity. To determine the possible mechanism underlying this phenomenon and to provide new genetic materials for the development of a novel garlic cultivar with useful agronomic traits, the metabolic profiles in the leaf tissue of 30 garlic accessions collected from different geographical regions, with a special focus on the Asian region, were investigated using LC/MS. In addition, the total saponin and fructan contents in the roots and cloves of the investigated garlic accessions were also evaluated. Total saponin and fructan contents did not separate the garlic accessions based on their geographical origin, implying that saponin and fructan contents were clone-specific and agroclimatic changes have affected the quantitative and qualitative levels of saponins in garlic over a long history of cultivation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and dendrogram clustering of the LC/MS-based metabolite profiling showed two major clusters. Specifically, many Japanese and Central Asia accessions were grouped in cluster I and showed high accumulations of flavonol glucosides, alliin, and methiin. On the other hand, garlic accessions grouped in cluster II exhibited a high accumulation of anthocyanin glucosides and amino acids. Although most of the accessions were not separated based on country of origin, the Central Asia accessions were clustered in one group, implying that these accessions exhibited distinct metabolic profiles. The present study provides useful information that can be used for germplasm selection and the development of new garlic varieties with beneficial biotic and abiotic stress-adaptive traits.     

Determination of phthalic acid, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in human plasma and in blood products

Pretreatment for the determination of phthalic acid, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in human serum or plasma, and the determination of these compounds in blood products by high-performance liquid chromatography was studied. The amount of phthalic acid, MEHP and DEHP, migrated into blood products from a flexible bag, was studied. About 0.1% of DEHP in a flexible bag was found to have migrated into human platelet plasma. Most of the MEHP and phthalic acid detected in human platelet plasma was not derived from the flexible bag but was produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of the migrated DEHP. The amount of DEHP eluted into blood products from the flexible bag differed, depending upon storage time, storage temperature, etc.     

大蒜对硒的吸收及硒对大蒜生长的影响

在培养液中添加不同浓度的Ｎａ２ＳｅＯ３研究大蒜对硒的吸收以及吸收的硒对大蒜生长的影响。结果表明，大蒜对硒具有很强的生物富集作用，总硒含量为对照的６２２倍，当添加１ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２ＳｅＯ３时，有机化程度最主达７８．２４％，另外吸收的硒影响大蒜的生长，低浓度硒促进大蒜生长，１ｍｍｏｌ／ＬＮａ２ＳｅＯ为最适的促进生长浓度，并能提高大蒜中的蛋白质，可溶性糖，ＤＮＡ，ＲＮＡ含量，大蒜可作为补硒和高营养价值     

冷柱头程序升温进样-气相色谱/质谱法研究新鲜大蒜中的有机硫化合物

采用冷溶剂提取新鲜大蒜中的有机硫化合物,结合冷柱头程序升温进样,对大蒜原始组分进行了气相色谱/质谱分析 。该法实现了从提取到色谱分离的“冷过程”,因而可以准确地鉴定大蒜提取液在热分解前的原始组分。分析结果表明, 在大蒜提取液中含有3-乙烯基-1,2-二硫杂-5-环己烯及其异构体2-乙烯基-1,3-二硫杂-4-环己烯两种主要组分以及少量 的S-甲基甲烷硫代亚磺酸酯、二烯丙基二硫醚、二烯丙基三硫醚。对大蒜的冷溶剂提取液和水蒸气蒸馏提取的大蒜油中 的有机硫化合物进行了比较,对一些主要有机硫化合物的形成进行了初步探讨。     

Diallyl Trisulfide,the Antifungal Component of Garlic Essential Oil and the Bioactivity of Its Nanoemulsions Formed by Spontaneous Emulsification

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical compounds of garlic essential oil (EO), and determine the antifungal efficacy of garlic EO and its major components, diallyl trisulfide and its nanoemulsions against wood-rotting fungi, Trametes hirsuta and Laetiporus sulphureus. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major constituents of garlic EO were diallyl trisulfide (39.79%), diallyl disulfide (32.91%), and diallyl sulfide (7.02%). In antifungal activity, the IC₅₀ value of garlic EO against T. hirsuta and L. sulphureus were 137.3 and 44.6 μg/mL, respectively. Results from the antifungal tests demonstrated that the three major constituents were shown to have good antifungal activity, in which, diallyl trisulfide was the most effective against T. hirsuta and L. sulphureus, with the IC₅₀ values of 56.1 and 31.6 μg/mL, respectively. The diallyl trisulfide nanoemulsions showed high antifungal efficacy against the examined wood-rotting fungi, and as the amount of diallyl trisulfide in the lipid phase increases, the antifungal efficacy of the nanoemulsions increases. These results showed that the nanoemulsions and normal emulsion of diallyl trisulfide have potential to develop into a natural wood preservative.     

GC-MS分析大蒜中的挥发油和大蒜精油

采用气相色谱—质谱法,分析比较大蒜中的挥发油以及大蒜精油的化学成分,通过非负矩阵因子分解(NMF)方法解析色谱重叠峰,并用峰面积百分比法计算各化学成分的峰面积相对百分含量。确定了大蒜中37种化学成分,其中含硫化合物34种,大蒜精油中的32种化学成分,含硫化合物28种。     

Ultraviolet derivatization of steroidal saponin in garlic and commercial garlic products as p-nitrobenzoate for liquid chromatographic determination

A method is described for determination of the steroidal saponin, eruboside B, originating in garlic and garlic products as the p-nitrobenzoyl chloride (PNBC) derivative by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (with ultraviolet detection at 260 nm. Proto-eruboside B was extracted from garlic (Allium sativum L.); subjected to solid-phase extraction (SPE) with a C18 cartridge, Florisil column chromatography, and silica gel column chromatography; and then enzymatically converted to eruboside B, which was applied as an external standard. Steroidal saponins in garlic and commercial garlic products were extracted with methanol and purified by SPE cartridges, followed by enzymatic treatment. A frostanol saponin such as proto-eruboside B is enzymatically transformed to a spirostanol saponin, eruboside B. After the derivatization with PNBC, the saponin derivative was chromatographed on a C8 column with a gradient elution of (A) 80% aqueous acetonitrile and (B) 100% acetonitrile. The detection limit of the developed method was 1 microg/g for the samples. The method was applied to the analysis of garlic and garlic health food products available in Japan.