The determination of metabolites of garlic preparations in breath and human plasma

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (OC-MS) was the major technique used to determine various metabolites after consumption of dehydrated granular garlic and an enteric-coated garlic preparation, in breath, plasma, and simulated gastric fluids. A special short-path thermal desorption device [1] was used as an introduction technique for the gas chromatograph for the determination of volatiles. These garlic preparations release allicin, which decomposes in stomach acid or with time in the intestine to release allyl sulfides, disulfides and other volatiles, some of which are postulated to be metabolized by glutathione and/or S-adenosylmethionine to form allyl methyl sulfide, the main sulfur containing volatile metabolite. S-Allylcysteine, a non-volatile bioactive component of aged garlic preparations, was determined in human plasma and urine by HPLC-MS using the negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode (APcI)-MS. The technique of selected ion monitoring was used for quantitation. A synthetic internal standard of deuterated S-allylcysteine was added to the plasma or urine to ensure recovery and to obtain reliable quantitative data.