Allicin inhibits transient outward potassium currents in mouse ventricular myocytes

Allicin is the active constituent of garlic, a widely used spice and food. The remedial properties of garlic have also been extensively researched and it has been demonstrated that allicin is able to inhibit the transient outward potassium current (I-to) in atrial myocytes. However, the direct effect of allicin on I-to in ventricular myocytes has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of allicin on I-to in ventricular myocytes isolated from mice were investigated, using the whole-cell patch recording technique. The results revealed that Ito current was not significantly suppressed by allicin in the low-dose group (10 mu mol/l; P>0.05). However, Ito was significantly inhibited by higher doses of allicin (30, 100 and 300 mu mol/l; P<0.05 vs. control; n=6) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50=41.6 mu mol/l). In addition, a high concentration of allicin (>= 100 mu mol/l) was able to accelerate the voltage-dependent inactivation of I-to in mouse ventricular myocytes. In conclusion, the present study revealed that allicin inhibited the I-to in mouse ventricular myocytes, which may be the mechanism through which allicin exerts its antiarrhythmic effect.