Therapeutic potential of garlic, aged garlic extract and garlic-derived compounds on pancreatic cancer (Review)

Garlic is a popular ingredient used in cuisines and traditional medicines worldwide. It contains numerous bioactive organosulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin, with reported potential for anticancer and antimicrobial therapy. The biological activity and potential use of garlic and its products have been extensively investigated. Aged garlic extract (AGE) is a product manufactured by aging garlic, and has been shown to have numerous health benefits. It has been previously revealed that several garlic-derived compounds, including AGE, have tumor-suppressive effects in various cancer models. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, and carries a dismal prognosis. Recently, numerous tumors, including PDAC, were shown to harbor intracellular bacteria, some of which are oral pathogens. Tumor-associated bacteria have been linked to cancer progression. Garlic may inhibit tumor development, in part, by targeting these bacteria. Although it requires further investigation, pharmacological and antibacterial effects of garlic and its products could offer significant therapeutic benefits for the prevention and treatment of PDAC. In the present review, the therapeutic potential of garlic on PDAC is summarized and discussed.