Inhibitory Action of Allicin on Degranulation of Mast Cells Produced by Compound 48/80, Histamine Liberator from Ascaris, Lecithinase A, and Antigen.

Summary. Allicin — a potent enzyme inhibitor prepared from garlic —was observed to block in low concentrations (2. 10 ‐6‐ 2 * 10 ‐4‐ M) the in vitro degranulation of rat mast cells produced by compound 48/80, by a histamine liberator prepared from Ascaris lumbricoides , by antigen‐antibody reaction, and by lecithinase A. Glutathione in excess reversed the blocked degranulating processes. The observations were considered to support our theory that the degranulation of mast cells produced by those agents is due to activation of a lytic enzyme attached to the mast cell membrane. This enzyme is— in common with lecithinase A — dependent on sulfhydryl groups for its activity.