Organosulfur compounds of garlic modulate mutagenesis, metabolism, and DNA binding of aflatoxin B1

The effects of two organosulfur compounds of garlic (ajoene and diallyl sulfide) and a crude garlic extract on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced mutagenesis were determined using rat liver 9,000 g supernatant (S-9) as the activation system and Salmonella typhimurium TA-100 as the tester strain. The effects of these compounds on AFB1 binding to calf thymus DNA were also measured. Metabolites of AFB1 were isolated and analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. All these compounds inhibited S-9-dependent mutagenesis induced by AFB1. They also inhibited AFB1 binding to DNA. A significant decrease in organo-soluble metabolites of AFB1 was observed with ajoene and garlic extract. An increase of glucuronide and glutathione conjugates was obtained with garlic extract. The results indicate that garlic compounds tested in this study are antimutagenic and, potentially, anticarcinogenic.