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

由压碎的大蒜产生的烯丙基硫化物被认为是在我们体内发挥多种功能的原则。另一方面，蒜氨酸是硫化物的母体分子，被认为是不活泼的。然而，最近的研究表明，蒜氨酸显示出免疫反应的激活和热产生的刺激。因此，后一种组分被认为在吸收或吸收后步骤期间将其形式改变为硫化物。本研究拟通过动物模型和消化器官研究其吸收机制。为此，我们建立了烯丙基甲基三硫醚的化学合成方法，并使用同位素标记的硫醚。根据我们的研究计划，在硫化物的作用方面，我们发现大蒜油和洋葱油具有新的抗癌活性。我们的证据如下：1.建立了烯丙基三硫醚的合成方法.蒜氨酸在小肠被吸收，在进入血液循环前被降解.蒜氨酸可被直肠癌细胞系Caco-2细胞吸收，且吸收发生在半胱氨酸转运蛋白位点。含有硫化物作为主要成分的大蒜和洋葱油可阻止HL-60癌细胞生长，并刺激细胞分化为正常样核细胞。这些证据有助于进一步研究功能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.