Inhibition of allicin in Eca109 and EC9706 cells via G2/M phase arrest and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

The effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of allicin on oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are unclear. Herein, we investigated the effect and action mechanism of allicin in the ESCC cells of Eca-109 and EC9706. The cell viability and invasion ability of the two ESCC cells in allicin group were significantly decreased after allicin treatment. Allicin reduced the percentage of G0/G1 and S phase and increased the population of G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels were significantly increased for p53, p21, CHK1, and decreased for cyclinB after allicin treatment. The apoptotic rate was significantly increased and accompanied by Cyt c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol, as well as Bax, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 which were significantly increased. Furthermore, suppression of tumour growth was evident in vivo. These results suggest that allicin can serve as a novel and effective anti-oesophageal cancer agent for the treatment of ESCC.