STUDY ON THE ABSORPTION AND FUNCTION OF SULFUR CONTAINING COMPOUNDS FROM VEGETABLES

碾碎的大蒜产生的烯丙基硫化物被称为在我们的身体中具有多种功能的原理。另一方面，硫化物的母分子蒜氨酸一直被认为是不活跃的。然而，最近的研究表明，蒜氨酸具有激活免疫反应和刺激产热的作用。因此，后一种成分被认为在吸收或吸收后步骤中以硫化物(S)的形式改变。我们目前的研究计划利用动物模型和消化器官来证明吸收机制。为此，我们建立了一种化学合成烯丙基甲基三硫的方法，并使用了同位素标记的硫化物。在我们计划研究的硫化物的功能上，我们发现了大蒜油和洋葱油的一种新的抗癌活性。主要研究内容如下：1.建立了三硫代烯丙基化合物的合成方法。蒜氨酸在小肠中被吸收，并在进入血液循环之前被降解。蒜氨酸被直肠癌细胞系Caco-2细胞吸收，吸收发生在半胱氨酸转运体的部位。大蒜和洋葱油含有硫化物作为其主要成分，可以阻止HL-60癌细胞的生长，并刺激细胞分化为正常的有核细胞。这些证据将有助于进一步研究功能性食品中的植物化学物质。

The allylsulfides produced by crushed garlic are known as principles giving several functions in our body. On the other hand, alliin the mother molecule of sulfides, has been thought to be inactive. However, recent investigators have demonstrated that alliin showed activation of immune reaction, and stimulation of heat generation. Thus, the latter component is thought to be changed its form into sulfide(s) during absorption or post-absorption steps. Our present investigation was planed to demonstrate absorption mechanism using an animal model and digestive organs. For the purpose, we established a method of chemical synthesis of allyl methyl trisulfide, and used isotope labeled sulfides. On the function of sulfides which we studied on the line of our plans, we found a novel anti-cancer activity of garlic oil as well as onion oil. Our evidences were as follows :1. We established a method of allyl trisulfide synthesis.2. Alliin was absorbed at small intestine, and degraded before appearing in blood circulation.3. Alliin was absorbed by Caco-2 cell, a cell line from rectum cancer cells, and the absorption took place at the site of cysteine-transporter.4. Garlic and onion oils containing sulfides as their major components prevented HL-60 cancer cell growth, and stimulated cell differentiation into normal-like nucleocytes. These evidences must help further study on the phytochemicals in functional foods.