s-allylcysteine

S-allylcysteine is a water-soluble organosulfur compound derived from garlic (Allium sativum), most abundantly present in aged garlic extract. It is an amino acid derivative, chemically classed among the cysteine derivatives. S-allylcysteine exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and potential antiglycative and antidepressant-like activities. Its mechanisms include (1) direct and indirect antioxidant action, restoring cellular antioxidant enzymes and decreasing lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and protein oxidation; (2) anti-amyloidogenic and antitangle activities relevant to neurodegenerative disease pathophysiology such as Alzheimer's disease; (3) reduction of inflammatory mediators; (4) inhibition of calpain activity through interaction with the Ca2+-binding site, resulting in reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neuronal death; (5) inhibition of aldose reductase preventing advanced glycation end products formation; (6) induction of the Nrf2 transcription factor pathway[1][3][5][7][9]. S-allylcysteine has been shown in preclinical models to mitigate oxidative stress, reduce proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells, and exert antidepressant-like effects.

Other names

S-allyl cysteineS-allyl-L-cysteineL-cysteine, S-2-propenyl-2-amino-3-(prop-2-en-1-ylsulfanyl)propanoic aciddeoxyalliinL-deoxyalliinDL-S-allylcysteine(L)-3-(allylsulfenyl)-alanine(R)-allylthio-2-aminopropionic acid