Effective production of S-allyl-L-cysteine through a homogeneous reaction with activated endogenous γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in garlic (Allium Sativum).

S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) is a bioactive compound in garlic (Allium sativum). A novel process including soaking and homogeneous reaction was applied for the effective production of SAC with endogenous γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GTP, EC 2.3.2.2) in garlic. The effects of temperature and CaCl2 concentration on γ-GTP activity in soaking, and the relationship of SAC production with γ-GTP activity in homogeneous reaction were investigated, using fresh garlic as raw material. The experimental results showed that the γ-GTP in fresh garlic was activated by soaking. The yield rate and the final content of SAC increased linearly with increasing initial γ-GTP activity in the homogeneous reaction at 37 °C. The final SAC content reached 606.3 μg/g (i.e. 32 times higher than that in fresh garlic) after soaking for 72 h in a 10-mM CaCl2 solution at 10 °C, and the homogeneous reaction for 8 h at 37 °C. SAC was produced effectively through the homogeneous reaction with activated endogenous γ-GTP in garlic.