The garlic compound ajoene targets protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum of cancer cells.

Ajoene is a natural allylsulfur compound found in crushed garlic that arrests growth and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. To gain mechanistic insights into the cytotoxicity of ajoene in cancer cells, two fluorescently labelled ajoene analogs with dansyl- (DP) and fluorescein- (FOX) tags were synthesized. The tagged ajoenes were found to retain their activity at inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast-cancer and WHCO1 human esophageal-cancer cells.

Novel copper(II) complexes as new promising antitumour agents. A crystal structure of [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)2(OH2)(OClO3)](ClO4).

The cytotoxic properties of copper(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) can be modified by substitution in the phen backbone. For this purpose, Cu(II) complexes with phen, 1,10-phenanthrolin-5,6-dione (phendione) and 1,10-phenanthrolin-5,6-diol (phendiol) have been synthesised and characterised. The crystal structure of [Cu(phendione)2(OH2)(OClO3)](ClO4) is discussed.