Allicin

Allicin, an active compound of garlic, is unstable in aqueous solution and rapidly decomposes mainly to diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS), and ajoene. DATS and DADS act as donors of H₂S donors, which plays a cell signaling role similar to NO and CO. Allicin exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, chemopreventive, antihyperlipidaemic and antihypertensive effects. Additionally, allicin inhibits telomerase activity and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS; NOS II) expression and promotes apoptosis.