Ajoene is a disulfide that has been found inA. sativumand has diverse biological activities, including antibacterial, anticancer, antiplatelet, and antioxidant properties.1,2,3,4It is active against Gram-positive (MICs = 5-160 µg ml) and Gram-negative bacteria (MICs = 136-200 µg ml), as well as yeasts (MICs = 10-20 µg ml).1Ajoene is cytotoxic to mouse melanoma cells (IC50= 18 µM), as well as human colon, lung, mammary, and pancreatic cancer cells (IC50s = 7-41 µM).2It reduces tumor growth in a B16 BL6 mouse model of melanoma when administered at a dose of 25 mg kg every other day and decreases the number of lung metastases when administered prior to tumor cell inoculation at doses ranging from 1-25 mg kg. It inhibits ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation in isolated baboon platelets when used at concentrations ranging from 75 to 150 µg ml and in platelet-rich plasma isolated from baboons when administered at a dose of 25 mg kg.3Ajoene (25 mg kg) prevents thrombus formation on damaged arterial walls in heparinized pigs in anin situmodel of thrombogenesis.5It also reduces high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis, histopathological markers of liver damage, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation, and protein oxidation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).4 1.Naganawa, R., Iwata, N., Ishikawa, K., et al.Inhibition of microbial growth by ajoene, a sulfur-containing compound derived from garlicAppl. Environ. Microbiol.62(11)4238-4242(1996) 2.Taylor, P., Noriega, R., Farah, C., et al.Ajoene inhibits both primary tumor growth and metastasis of B16 BL6 melanoma cells in C57BL 6 miceCancer Lett.239(2)298-304(2006) 3.Teranishi, K., Apitz-Castro, R., Robson, S.C., et al.Inhibition of baboon platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo by the garlic derivative, ajoeneXenotransplantation10(4)374-379(2003) 4.Han, C.Y., Ki, S.H., Kim, Y.W., et al.Ajoene, a stable garlic by-product, inhibits high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative injury through LKB1-dependent AMPK activationAntioxid. Redox Signal.14(2)187-202(2011) 5.Apitz-Castro, R., Badimon, J.J., and Badimon, L.A garlic derivative, ajoene, inhibits platelet deposition on severely damaged vessel wall in an in vivo porcine experimental modelThromb. Res.75(3)243-249(1994)
Urotensin II is a peptide vasoconstrictor and agonist of the urotensin (UT) receptor (Ki= 2.06 nM for the human recombinant receptor expressed in HEK293 cells).1It stimulates intracellular calcium mobilization in HEK293 cells expressing human and rat UT (EC50s = 0.47 and 0.78 nM, respectively) but decreases intracellular calcium concentration in goby (G. mirabilis) enterocytes when used at a concentration of 500 nM.2Urotensin II (20 mU/ml) stimulates active sodium and chloride absorption across isolated goby posterior intestine in 5% seawater-adapted solution.3In vivo, urotensin II (1.5-150 nmol/kg) decreases diastolic blood pressure and increases heart rate in anesthetized rats.4It also reduces the pressor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, norepinephrine , and vasopressin in pithed rats when administered at a dose of 150 nmol/kg. 1.Ames, R.S., Sarau, H.M., Chambers, J.K., et al.Human urotensin-II is a potent vasoconstrictor and agonist for the orphan receptor GPR14Nature401(6750)282-286(1999) 2.Loretz, C.A., and Assad, J.A.Urotensin II lowers cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in goby enterocytes: Measurements using quin2Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.64(3)355-361(1986) 3.Loretz, C.A., Freel, R.W., and Bern, H.A.Specificity of response of intestinal ion transport systems to a pair of natural peptide hormone analogs: Somatostatin and urotensin IIGen. Comp. Endocrinol.52(2)198-206(1983) 4.Gibson, A., Wallace, P., and Bern, H.A.Cardiovascular effects of urotensin II in anesthetized and pithed ratsGen. Comp. Endocrinol.64(3)435-439(1986)