Diallyl trisulfide

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), also known as Allitridin, is an organosulfur compound. Derived from the hydrolysis of allicin, it is one of the main components in garlic oil. Although garlic contains many polysulfides, including diallyl disulfide and diallyl tetrasulfide, DATS is one of the most potent.

Biological applications

Garlic is reported to have many potential health benefits in humans, including anti-cancer effects, platelet aggregation, blood pressure reduction, decreases in cholesterol levels, and increases in levels of reactive oxygen species. These benefits are attributed in part to DATS. DATS has been shown to selectively kill cancerous cells in the prostate and breast, leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is due to its ability to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cancer cells, increase the number of cells that arrest in the G2 phase of mitosis, and promote an increase in caspase-3 activity. These effects appear to contribute to the apoptosis of cancer cells and a decrease in cancer cell proliferation.