Garlic & Health - the Development of high quality garlic and its influence on biomarkers of atherosclerosis and cancer in humans for disease prevention

PROPOSAL: QLK1-1999-00498 ACRONYM G&H
AREA: FP5 - QoL, 5/ 1:Food, Nutrition and Health 1 - Development of safe and flexible and new and/or improved manufacturing processes and technologies Call number / date: 1a
PROJECT TYPE: Shared Cost EU CONTRIBUTION: 3,940,000
STARTING DATE: 01/02/00 DURATION: 48 months

Coordinator: Dr. M.P.J. Kik, DLO Centre for Plant Breeding and Reprod, Instituut voor Milieu- en Agritechniek, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, P.O.Box 16, NL -6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands, Email: c.kik@plant.wag-ur.nl

Project Description:
There are two main scientific objectives in the G&H project, firstly to understand and improve the production of garlic active compounds by sophisticated breeding techniques, and secondly to improve the understanding of the role of garlic as diet and as therapy in promoting and sustaining health and preventing cardiovascular-diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer. The production of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Europe is concentrated in Mediterranean countries, Spain, France and Italy. The price of European garlic is high, especially in comparison with Chinese garlic. This price difference could severely threaten the European garlic growers if there was a free market in Europe for garlic. However, to protect the European garlic growers the European Commission issued in 1993 a regulation that only 12000 tons of Chinese garlic can be imported annually. The main objective of the plant part of the project is to develop methods, through improved seed technology and genetics, which will enable the European garlic growers to meet the internal demand for high quality products and to compete on the international level. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are by far the leading causes of death and morbidity in the EU. The health cost spent on the treatment of these diseases reaches many billion ECUs. Garlic has been used for a long time as food with many therapeutic effects. Its beneficial effects are directly linked to its sulphur metabolism. Detailed studies on the mechanisms underlying cancer and cardio-vascular diseases are lacking, especially studies with defined garlic preparations and compounds are poorly found. Therefore the main objective of the health part of the project is the analysis of the role of garlic for the prevention of chronic diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer through cellular, molecular and clinical studies in cells, animals and humans. Specific biomarkers will be identified as indicators for the modulation of these diseases on the cellular and tissue level and in humans as a basis for new intervention studies. Expected Results Garlic is a plant wearing an image of nature and health which has not yet been scientifically justified and also not economically exploited. More insight in the synthesis of beneficial garlic constituents and in their mechanism of action will lead to more effective ways to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases and cancer and will result in better nutritional guidelines for the general population with respect to prevention of these diseases. This will reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, the main causes of morbidity and death in the European Union, and consequently improve the quality of life by increasing the number of years of life in good health. Applications The project is highly beneficial for the garlic agro-industry of the Mediterranean countries and for the food and pharma industries of the Northern EU countries, thus promoting consumption and health-value.

Project URL: not known

Consortium:
Co-ordinator: Dr. C. Kik, Plant Research International, Wageningen University & Research Center, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; E-mail: c.kik@plant.wag-ur.nl Dr. B. Thomas, Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, United Kingdom. Dr. H.A. Collin, The University of Liverpool, School of Biological Sciences, Donnan Laboratories, L69 7ZD Liverpool. United Kingdom. Dr. R. Kahane, COOPD'OR , B.V. 1540, 21034 Dijon, France. Prof. Dr. J. Auger, Universite de F. Rabelais, IRBI, Faculte des Sciences et Techniques, Avenue Monge 37200 Tours, France. Prof. Dr. J. Martin Sanchez, Dto. de Microbiologia, Universidad de Cordoba. San Alberto Magna S/n 14004 Cordoba, Spain. Dr. R. Kamenetsky, The Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel. Dr. L. Fereol, CIRAD-FLHOR, Ave. Agropolis, BP 5035, 34032 Montpellier Cedex 1, France. Ir. V. Chovelon, INRA, Pathologie Vegetale, BP 94, 84143 Montfavet, France Prof. Dr. H.D. Rabinowitch, The Hebrew University, Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Quality Sciences, Department of Field Crops, Vegetables & Genetics. P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Prof. Dr. R. Gebhardt, University of Leipzig, Dept. of Biochemistry. Liebigstrasse 16, 04103 Leipzig. Germany. Dr. M.H. Siess, INRA, Unite de Toxicologie Nutritionelle, 17 rue Sully, 21034 Dijon, France Prof. Dr. A.M. Vollmar, University of Munchen, Lehrstuhl fur Pharmazeutische Biologie, Zentrum fur Pharmaforschung, Butenandstrasse 5, 81375 Munchen. Dr. J.M.G. Princen, TNO - Prevention and Health, Gaubius Laboratory, Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, The Netherlands Dr. Th. Haffner, Lichtwer Pharma AG, Wallenroder Strasse 8-10, D-13435 Berlin, Germany.


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