Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor
Garlic (Allium sativum) has potent antimicrobial activity due to allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) synthesized by enzyme catalysis in damaged garlic tissues. Allicin gives crushed garlic its characteristic odor and its volatility makes it potentially useful for combating lung infections. Allicin was sy...
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/10/1711 |
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| author | Jana Reiter Natalja Levina Mark van der Linden Martin Gruhlke Christian Martin Alan J. Slusarenko |
| author_facet | Jana Reiter Natalja Levina Mark van der Linden Martin Gruhlke Christian Martin Alan J. Slusarenko |
| author_sort | Jana Reiter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Garlic (Allium sativum) has potent antimicrobial activity due to allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) synthesized by enzyme catalysis in damaged garlic tissues. Allicin gives crushed garlic its characteristic odor and its volatility makes it potentially useful for combating lung infections. Allicin was synthesized (>98% pure) by oxidation of diallyl disulfide by H2O2 using formic acid as a catalyst and the growth inhibitory effect of allicin vapor and allicin in solution to clinical isolates of lung pathogenic bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus, including multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, was demonstrated. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined and compared to clinical antibiotics using standard European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) procedures. The cytotoxicity of allicin to human lung and colon epithelial and murine fibroblast cells was tested in vitro and shown to be ameliorated by glutathione (GSH). Similarly, the sensitivity of rat precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) to allicin was decreased by raising the [GSH] to the approximate blood plasma level of 1 mM. Because allicin inhibited bacterial growth as a vapor, it could be used to combat bacterial lung infections via direct inhalation. Since there are no volatile antibiotics available to treat pulmonary infections, allicin, particularly at sublethal doses in combination with oral antibiotics, could make a valuable addition to currently available treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:15:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-191eb8f77c944884a375baf057d8687f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:15:27Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-191eb8f77c944884a375baf057d8687f2022-12-21T18:42:18ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492017-10-012210171110.3390/molecules22101711molecules22101711Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a VaporJana Reiter0Natalja Levina1Mark van der Linden2Martin Gruhlke3Christian Martin4Alan J. Slusarenko5Department of Plant Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, GermanyGerman National Reference Centre of Streptococci (GNRCS), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, GermanyGerman National Reference Centre of Streptococci (GNRCS), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Plant Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty of RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Plant Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, GermanyGarlic (Allium sativum) has potent antimicrobial activity due to allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) synthesized by enzyme catalysis in damaged garlic tissues. Allicin gives crushed garlic its characteristic odor and its volatility makes it potentially useful for combating lung infections. Allicin was synthesized (>98% pure) by oxidation of diallyl disulfide by H2O2 using formic acid as a catalyst and the growth inhibitory effect of allicin vapor and allicin in solution to clinical isolates of lung pathogenic bacteria from the genera Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus, including multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, was demonstrated. Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined and compared to clinical antibiotics using standard European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) procedures. The cytotoxicity of allicin to human lung and colon epithelial and murine fibroblast cells was tested in vitro and shown to be ameliorated by glutathione (GSH). Similarly, the sensitivity of rat precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) to allicin was decreased by raising the [GSH] to the approximate blood plasma level of 1 mM. Because allicin inhibited bacterial growth as a vapor, it could be used to combat bacterial lung infections via direct inhalation. Since there are no volatile antibiotics available to treat pulmonary infections, allicin, particularly at sublethal doses in combination with oral antibiotics, could make a valuable addition to currently available treatments.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/10/1711allicingarlicAllium sativumvolatile antimicrobial agentlung pathogenic bacteriaMDR strainsantimicrobialStreptococcus pneumoniaePseudomonas aeruginosa |
| spellingShingle | Jana Reiter Natalja Levina Mark van der Linden Martin Gruhlke Christian Martin Alan J. Slusarenko Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor Molecules allicin garlic Allium sativum volatile antimicrobial agent lung pathogenic bacteria MDR strains antimicrobial Streptococcus pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| title | Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor |
| title_full | Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor |
| title_fullStr | Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor |
| title_short | Diallylthiosulfinate (Allicin), a Volatile Antimicrobial from Garlic (Allium sativum), Kills Human Lung Pathogenic Bacteria, Including MDR Strains, as a Vapor |
| title_sort | diallylthiosulfinate allicin a volatile antimicrobial from garlic allium sativum kills human lung pathogenic bacteria including mdr strains as a vapor |
| topic | allicin garlic Allium sativum volatile antimicrobial agent lung pathogenic bacteria MDR strains antimicrobial Streptococcus pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/10/1711 |
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