The suspected medicinal value of garlic (Allium sativum L.) is now believed due to the properties of its active principle, allyithiosuffinicallyl ester, allicin (6). Allicin is produced by enzymatic degra

sativum L.) is now believed due to the properties of its active principle, allyithiosuffinicallyl ester, allicin (6). Allicin is produced by enzymatic degra dation of alum, S-allyl-frcysteine-S-oxide. Inhibi tion of sulfhydryl enzymes is associated with the presence of the —SO—S—grouping(11). The role of suffhydryl groups in cell division and mitoses has been reviewed by Barron (1) : an increase in —SH is associated with cell division as well as growth, while agents which poison or oxidize —SH com pounds inhibit cell division. Sulfhydryl-deflcient diets may inhibit tumor growth in some animals, whereas the addition of cysteine or glutathione may have the opposite effect (9, 10). Therefore, interference with suif hydryl-carrying components might block neces sary steps for division and growth of cells. Von Euler al al. (7) reported that pure alum had growth-inhibiting action on various tumors, with inconsistent complete inhibition in rats of Jensen sarcoma and of a benzpyrene-induced sarcoma. No regression of Ehrlich ascites tumors in mice was noted following a single intratumoral injection of 20 mg. of aiim. In 1957, Novinov, Levy and Chochlov (4) reported that their synthetic aiim was ineffective, at concentrations higher than those used by von Euler, on transplanted and induced tumors. Recently Weisberger and Pensky (8) reviewed some of the evidence implicating ab normalities of metabolism of sulfhydryl com pounds in human leukemia and presented their own results on Sarcoma 180 (S-180) tumors in