(E)-Ajoene is a disulfide that has been found in A. sativum and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3,4 It is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MICs = 10-250 and 150->500 µg/ml, respectively) and fungi (MICs = 15-50 µg/ml).1 (E)-Ajoene inhibits proliferation of a variety of cancer cells, including MDA-MB-231 breast, HeLa cervical, and WHCO1 esophageal cancer cells (IC50s = 18.6, 61, and 39.2 µM, respectively).2 It also inhibits human glutathione reductase and T. cruzi trypanothione reductase when used at a concentration of 200 µM.3 (E)-Ajoene (25 mg/kg) is neuroprotective in a gerbil model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, reducing reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis in the hippocampal CA1 region.4
1.Yoshida, H., Iwata, N., Katsuzaki, H., et al.Antimicrobial activity of a compound isolated from an oil-macerated garlic extractBiosci. Biotechnol. Biochem.62(5)1014-1017(1998) 2.Kaschula, C.H., Hunter, R., Hassan, H.T., et al.Anti-proliferation activity of synthetic ajoene analogues on cancer cell-linesAnticancer Agents Med. Chem.11(3)260-266(2011) 3.Gallwitz, H., Bonse, S., Martinez-Cruz, A., et al.Ajoene is an inhibitor and subversive substrate of human glutathione reductase and Trypanosoma cruzi trypanothione reductase: Crystallographic, kinetic, and spectroscopic studiesJ. Med. Chem.42(3)364-372(1999) 4.Yoo, D.Y., Kim, W., Nam, S.M., et al.Neuroprotective effects of Z-ajoene, an organosulfur compound derived from oil-macerated garlic, in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemiaFood Chem. Toxicol.721-7(2014)