Aged garlic extract modulates glutathione redox cycle and superoxide dismutase activity in vascular endothelial cells

In this study the effect of an aged garlic extract (AGE) on glutathione (GSH) redox cycle and activity of antioxidant enzymes was investigated. Confluent monolayers of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were incubated with varying concentrations of AGE for 8-48 h, washed, and then lysed with Triton X-100. Biochemical assays were performed with the lysate. AGE caused both dose- and time dependent increases in intracellular GSH level, glutathione disulphide (GSSG) reductase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while GSSG level was decreased. These results suggest that the antioxidant effect of AGE may be due to its modulation of the GSH redox cycle and SOD activity in vascular endothelial cells. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.