Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 23 (6): 1145-1151, 2015 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2015.23.06.9381 Corresponding Author: Faisal Nouroz, Department of Bioinformatics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan. 1145 A Review on Anticancer Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Faisal Nouroz, Madiha Mehboob, Shumaila Noreen, 1 1 2 Farah Zaidi and Tibgha Mobin 2 3 Department of Bioinformatics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan 1 Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan 2 Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan 3 Abstract: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is amongst the oldest plants cultivated for its utilization as food and medicine. It is an incredible plant with numerous useful impacts such as antithrombotic, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, antitumor, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. The present review will focus on large preclinical utilization of garlic in the prevention and cure of cancer. Various studies have showed the chemo- preventive action of this agent by means of various garlic mixtures together with garlic oil, garlic extract and various organosulfur compounds. The chemo-preventive action has been ascribed to the existence of these organosulfur compounds in garlic. It is not fully stated that how this is accomplished, yet a number of methods of action have been projected. These comprise its impact on antioxidant properties, inhibition of tumor growth and drug metabolizing enzymes. The majority of these studies were conducted in the animal models. Moreover, current investigations have concentrated on the antimutagenic action of garlic. Newly, it has been noticed that mature garlic extract displays the scavenging activities with the help of two compounds as S-allylmercapto-L- cysteine and S-allylcystine. Furthermore, various organosulfur compounds obtained from garlic, together with S-allylcystine have been found to hinder the intensification of transplantable and tumors induced chemically in animal models. Thus, the use of garlic may give an assurance of protection from cancer advancement. Key words: Garlic Cancer Organosulphur Anticancer Agents Diallyl Sulfide Mutagens INTRODUCTION phellandrene, linalool, citral and geraniol are important [3]. Cancer can influence any race, any age group or compounds having sulfur, specially alliin, allicin diallyal societal class or even fetuses and disseminated all around disulphide (DADA) and cycroalliin. Moreover it also the world causing significant loss of human lives. contains Vitamins (A, B1 and C) phosphorous, sulfur, Environmental factors are the major causes of cancer by sodium, manganese, trace iodine, iron, germanium, acting as carcinogens [1]. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) selenium, calcium and potassium. In addition garlic belongs to family Amaryllidaceae and is also called as contains 17 amino acids with 8 vital amino acids. Several Poor Man’s Treacle. Garlic bulb contains water (65%), unrevealed garlic substances acquire additional carbohydrates (28%), organosulfur compounds (2.3%), therapeutic agents. Relatively a small number of medically proteins (mostly allinase; 2%), amino acids (1.2%) and active compounds are found in garlic. On chopping or fiber (1.5%) [2]. crushing garlic, a dozen of novel compounds are Chemical Constituents of Garlic: There are more than two hundred chemical compounds in the Garlic bulb, of Garlic Organosulfur Compounds: Garlic has an extensive which, volatile oil with sulfur containing compounds history as a food with novel flavor and aroma all along like Ajoene (4,5,9-trithiadodeca-1,6,11-triene-9-oxide), with some medicinal qualities. Modern scientific study Alliin and Allicin, enzymes like peroxidase, allinase, has discovered that large diversity of medicinal and myrosinase and other compounds like -phellandrene, - dietary functions of garlic can be ascribed to organosulfur The garlic carries some biochemically most dynamic produced through several chemical reactions [4].