{"id":8482,"date":"2025-06-19T11:01:33","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T09:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/salute\/black-garlic-and-cancer-prevention-a-promise-from-nature\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T08:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T06:50:11","slug":"black-garlic-and-cancer-prevention-a-promise-from-nature","status":"publish","type":"salute","link":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/salute\/black-garlic-and-cancer-prevention-a-promise-from-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Garlic and Cancer Prevention: A Promise from Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- Meta Description SEO --><br \/>\n<!-- L'aglio nero contiene composti bioattivi che aiutano a prevenire il cancro agendo su stress ossidativo, apoptosi e proliferazione cellulare. --><\/p>\n<h2>Black Garlic and Cancer Prevention: A Promise from Nature<\/h2>\n<p>Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. Research has shown how black garlic, thanks to its <strong>antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties<\/strong>, can act effectively in <strong>cancer prevention<\/strong>. Its bioactive compounds, such as <strong>S-allylcysteine (SAC)<\/strong> and <strong>S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC)<\/strong>, are the focus of numerous scientific studies.  <\/p>\n<h3>Oxidative stress and cancer<\/h3>\n<p>Oxidative stress, caused by an excess of <strong>free radicals<\/strong>, damages DNA and promotes mutations that can lead to the development of tumors. Black garlic helps <strong>neutralize free radicals<\/strong>, protecting cells from damage and reducing the risk of malignant transformation <em>[Ahmed &#038; Wang, 2021][Park et al., 2014]<\/em>. <\/p>\n<h3>Direct mechanisms: Apoptosis and proliferation blocking<\/h3>\n<p>The SAC and SAMC compounds in black garlic directly affect cancer cells by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Induction of apoptosis:<\/strong> SAC activates proteins such as Bax and caspase-3, promoting programmed cancer cell <strong>death<\/strong> <em>[Park et al., 2014].<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Blocking proliferation:<\/strong> Black garlic inhibits the PI3K\/AKT and NF-\u03baB pathways, which are critical for <strong>cancer cell growth<\/strong> <em>[Shin et al., 2010].<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Indirect mechanisms: Inhibition of metastasis<\/h3>\n<p>Black garlic reduces the expression of <strong>MMP-2 and MMP-9 metalloproteinases<\/strong>, enzymes involved in the spread of cancer cells. In this way, it also acts on <strong>the prevention of metastasis<\/strong> <em>[Ahmed &#038; Wang, 2021]<\/em>. <\/p>\n<h3>Scientific evidence<\/h3>\n<p>Preclinical studies on <strong>colon, stomach and breast cancer<\/strong> cell lines show that <strong>black garlic extract<\/strong> reduces the proliferation of malignant cells and improves survival in animal models.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to these properties, black garlic is confirmed as a <strong>natural promise in cancer prevention<\/strong>, with potential applications also in the therapeutic field.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Call to Action --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 20px; background-color: #f6f6f6; border-left: 4px solid #333;\">\n<p><strong>\u2728 Learn more about the power of black garlic!<\/strong><br \/>\n Also read our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/salute\/black-garlic-as-a-natural-ally-against-inflammation\/\">black garlic and inflammation<\/a> or visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/shop\/\">our official shop<\/a> to discover all its benefits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>To learn more about the benefits of <strong>fermented black garlic<\/strong>, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/health\/\">Health<\/a> section.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>A heartfelt thanks to Dr. Valentina Vecchi for her contribution to black garlic research, to Prof. Monica Borgatti for the academic guidance and to the University of Ferrara for its constant commitment to scientific research.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">SOURCES<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Col\u00edn-Gonz\u00e1lez, A. L., Santana, R. A., Silva-Islas, C. A., Ch\u00e1nez-C\u00e1rdenas, M. E., Santamar\u00eda, A., &#038; Maldonado, P. D. (2012). The Antioxidant Mechanisms Underlying the Aged Garlic Extract- and S-Allylcysteine-Induced Protection. <em>Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity<\/em>, <em>2012<\/em>(1), 907162.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2012\/907162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2012\/907162<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Dai, F., Chen, W.-F., &#038; Zhou, B. (2008). Antioxidant synergism of green tea polyphenols with alpha-tocopherol and L-ascorbic acid in SDS micelles. <em>Biochimie<\/em>, <em>90<\/em>(10), 1499\u20131505. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biochi.2008.05.007\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biochi.2008.05.007<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Lee, Y.-M., Gweon, O.-C., Seo, Y.-J., Im, J., Kang, M.-J., Kim, M.-J., &#038; Kim, J.-I. (2009). Antioxidant effect of garlic and aged black garlic in animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. <em>Nutrition Research and Practice<\/em>, <em>3<\/em>(2), 156. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4162\/nrp.2009.3.2.156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4162\/nrp.2009.3.2.156<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Pedraza-Chaverr\u00ed, J., Barrera, D., Maldonado, P. D., Chirino, Y. I., Mac\u00edas-Ruvalcaba, N. A., Medina-Campos, O. N., Castro, L., Salcedo, M. I., &#038; Hern\u00e1ndez-Pando, R. (2004). S-allylmercaptocysteine scavenges hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen in vitro and attenuates gentamicin-induced oxidative and nitrosative stress and renal damage in vivo. <em>BMC Clinical Pharmacology<\/em>, <em>4<\/em>(1), 5. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1472-6904-4-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1472-6904-4-5<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Qiu, Z., Zheng, Z., Zhang, B., Sun-Waterhouse, D., &#038; Qiao, X. (2020). Formation, nutritional value, and enhancement of characteristic components in black garlic: A review for maximizing the goodness to humans. <em>Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety<\/em>, <em>19<\/em>(2), 801\u2013 834. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1541-4337.12529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1541-4337.12529<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Reddy, V. P. (2023). Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease. <em>Biomedicines<\/em>, <em>11<\/em>(11), 2925. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/biomedicines11112925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/biomedicines11112925<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Rice-Evans, C. A., Miller, N. J., &#038; Paganga, G. (1996). Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of flavonoids and phenolic acids. <em>Free Radical Biology &#038; Medicine<\/em>, <em>20<\/em>(7), 933\u2013956. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0891-5849(95)02227-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/0891-5849(95)02227-9<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Zhao, L., Chen, J., Su, J., Li, L., Hu, S., Li, B., Zhang, X., Xu, Z., &#038; Chen, T. (2013). In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. <em>Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry<\/em>, <em>61<\/em>(44), 10604\u201310611. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/jf403098y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/jf403098y<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Black Garlic and Cancer Prevention: A Promise from Nature Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. Research has shown how black garlic, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can act effectively in cancer prevention. Its bioactive compounds, such as S-allylcysteine (SAC) and S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), are the focus of numerous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8483,"template":"","categoria_salute":[182],"class_list":["post-8482","salute","type-salute","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categoria_salute-superfood"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/salute\/8482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/salute"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/salute"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/salute\/8482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9710,"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/salute\/8482\/revisions\/9710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categoria_salute","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nerofermento.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categoria_salute?post=8482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}