Malaria and Cancer Cells Yield to the Same Garlic Compounds

[Guest guest]

http://www.sciam.com/news/111401/1.html

MEDICINE

Malaria and Cancer Cells Yield to the Same Garlic Compounds

 

Garlic may not ward off vampires, but scientific research indicates that it does

provide a number of health benefits,

exhibiting antifungal and antibacterial properties, and seeming to help lower

the risk of cardiovascular disease and

certain kinds of cancer. Animal studies have also shown it to fight malaria.

Exactly how garlic works against such

disparate foes, however, has proved somewhat difficult to understand. To that

end, findings announced yesterday at the

annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in

Atlanta provide some insight. According to

the report, both malaria and cancer cells succumb to the same garlic compounds.

 

To probe garlic's protective powers, Ian Crandall of the University of Toronto

and colleagues focused on compounds

called disulfides that are known to have antifungal, antibacterial and

anticancer properties. The team tested 11

synthetic disulfide compounds against malaria-infected cells and cancer cells.

Those that effectively combated the

malarial cells, they found, also eliminated the cancer cells.

 

Crandall suspects that their shared susceptibility may stem from their

dependence on what is known as the glutathione

system. In this cell system, the antioxidant and detoxifier glutathione is

reduced and stored for use later, when it is

needed to absorb damage. Cells that rapidly reproduce, such as those afflicted

by cancer or malaria, are particularly

dependent on this glutathione system because toxins are natural by-products of

metabolism. As it turns out, the garlic

disulfide Ajoene inhibits glutathione reduction, which can be a death sentence

for malaria-infected cells and cancer

cells.

 

Looking forward, Crandall hopes that such disulfide compounds may one day find

use in the treatment of both malaria and

cancer. For now, however, he and his colleagues must endure the perfume of the

stinking rose while they work. " Does this

stuff smell like garlic? Well, every time we open a vial of it in the lab

everybody runs. " —Kate Wong

========================

 

Again this study suggests reduced glutathione (reduced capacity to deal with

toxins & free radicals) assists cancer cell

death. So what you feed yourself to stay healthy may be different if you have

cancer.

 

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson, gowatson

USDA database (food breakdown) http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/

PubMed (research papers) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

DWIDP (nutrient analysis) http://www.walford.com/dwdemo/dw2b63demo.exe

KIM (omega analysis) http://ods.od.nih.gov/eicosanoids/KIM_Install.exe

[Guest guest]

Greg,

Do you know whether roasted garlic has the same health benefits as raw

garlic? I love roasted garlic because it has a milder flavor and tastes

wonderful baked on whole wheat bread.

Arizona

 

> Garlic may not ward off vampires, but scientific research indicates that it

> does provide a number of health benefits,

> exhibiting antifungal and antibacterial properties, and seeming to help

> lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and

>

 

 

 

Arizona Hughes

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Please stop by and visit my Website listed below

http://members.aol.com/artistdesigner/Arizona_Hughes/Page_1x.html

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

-

<ArtistDesigner

 

Monday, November 26, 2001 1:56 PM

Re: Malaria and Cancer Cells Yield to the Same Garlic

Compounds

 

 

> Greg,

> Do you know whether roasted garlic has the same health benefits as raw

> garlic? I love roasted garlic because it has a milder flavor and tastes

> wonderful baked on whole wheat bread.

 

Hi Arizona,

 

We use it both raw and cooked. There seems to be benefits from both forms. I

try to get plenty of variety in my foods.

========================

Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson, gowatson

USDA database (food breakdown) http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/

PubMed (research papers) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

DWIDP (nutrient analysis) http://www.walford.com/dwdemo/dw2b63demo.exe

KIM (omega analysis) http://ods.od.nih.gov/eicosanoids/KIM_Install.exe