Phytochemical Alliin, Processes Anti-Angiogenesis in Cancer

By Kyle J. Norton

Angiogenesis is the process that promotes the formation of new blood vessels involving many factors including the migration, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells.

Believe it or not, all active tissues in the body is on a distance less than a hundred micrometers from a blood capillary formed by the process of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is important for the cells for the diffusion exchange of nutrients and metabolites through the small blood vessels.

In normal and healthy condition, stimulating angiogenesis has been found to have a therapeutic effect for the treatment of ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and wound healing.

However, in cancers, stimulating angiogenesis in tumor cells has been associated with tumors proliferation and metastasis.

In other words, angiogenesis process a function of a double sword, on one hand, the process provides an ideal condition for diseases and wound healing. On the other hand, it promotes invasive and overgrowth tumor.

The Genentech in the article "Tumor Angiogenesis and the VEGF Pathway" wrote, "Angiogenesis is a necessary part of the process in the progression of cancer from small, localized neoplasms to larger, growing, and potentially metastatic tumors. To grow beyond 1 to 2 mm in diameter, a tumor needs an independent blood supply, which is acquired by the expression of growth factors that recruit new vasculature from existing blood vessels".

"This process continues even as the tumor matures. Thus, upregulation of angiogenesis is a key step in sustained tumor growth and may also be critical for tumor metastasis".

In other words, by the inhibiting the process of blood vessels formation of the tumor, cancer may be curable.

Alliin (S-allyl-L-cysteine-S-oxide) is a phytochemical compound sulfoxide,. a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, belonging to the class of sulfur compounds, found abundantly in fresh garlic and onion.

In the urgency to find a potential ingredient for the treatment of cancer with no side effect, scientists examined the phytochemical alliin, a compound derived from garlic anti-angiogenesis activity.

In the chick chorioallantoic membrane, injection of alliin exerted a significant effect on the inhibition of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) associated with the angiogenesis.

In the CAM model, alliin also inhibited the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis.

Combined with antioxidant vitamins C and E significantly (P < 0.001) enhanced the function of alliin inhibitory efficacy on FGF2-induced EC tube formation and angiogenesis, particularly in the colon and fibrosarcoma tumor growth.

More precisely, alliin significantly inhibited both FGF2 and VEGF secretion from human fibrosarcoma cells compared to other types of tumors in a concentration-dependent manner

However, the anti-angiogenesis of alliin was reversed if the NO synthesis inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were injected.

The efficacy of alliin was attributed to the activation of the expression of a protein involved in immune tumor suppression.

In other words, alliin worked synergistically with other antioxidants to promote anti-angiogenesis and anticancer efficacy.

Dr. Mousa AS, the lead scientist wrote, "These data also suggest the implication of cellular NO and p53 as mediators of anti-angiogenesis and anticancer effects of alliin".

Taken altogether, alliin may be considered supplements for the inhibition of angiogenesis in the promotion of tumor growth, pending on the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of alliin in the form of supplement should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

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Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Anti-angiogenesis efficacy of the garlic ingredient alliin and antioxidants: role of nitric oxide and p53 by Mousa AS1, Mousa SA. (PubMed)
(2) Tumor Angiogenesis and the VEGF Pathway by The Genentech