The role of oxidative stress in the effects mediated by a garlic constituent (diallyl trisulfide) in cervical and prostate cancer cell lines

Garlic (Allium sativum) is renowned for its medicinal properties and is abundant in various bioactive compounds including organosulfur compounds (OSCs). Among these, diallyl trisulfide (DATS) stands out as one of the most potent found in garlic. Literature suggests that DATS exerts antiproliferative activity, antimitotic activity and induces apoptosis in several tumorigenic cell lines by means of reactive oxygen species (ROS), however, the exact mechanism by which DATS exerts its effects remains elusive. In this study the role of oxidative stress in the effects mediated by DATS was investigated in cervical- (HeLa) and prostate (DU145) cell lines. 

The influence on cell proliferation was assessed by means of crystal violet staining (spectrophotometry), cell morphology by means of light microscopy, cell migration by means of a scratch assay (light microscopy), cell cycle progression and cell death by means of propidium iodide staining (flow cytometry), H₂O₂ production by means of 2,7-dichlorofluoresceindiacetate staining (DCFDA) (fluorescent microscopy), mitochondrial membrane potential by means of 5’,6,6’-Tetrachloro-1,1’,3,3’-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) dye and dysregulation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase via spectrophotometry.