Allium hirtifolium Boiss (Alliaceae) with the common name of Moosir, has been widely used as medicine and condiment predates. Allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) is generated upon the interaction of the alliin with alliinase following damaging the cells. Allicin has a wide variety of biological effects such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, anticancer, and antiatherosclerotic activities [1]. In this investigation, the effects of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) and sulphur on allicin content of Moosir explants were studied. Sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesized through water-in-oil microemulsion system [2]. The bulbs of Moosir were sterilized, stem disc parts cultured on Moorashing and Skoog medium supplemented with various concentrations of SNPs and sulphur (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm) and after one month samples collected. For determination of allicin contents, samples were extracted and analyzed using HPLC. The eluent was methanol, water and acetonitrile and flow rate 1 ml/min. For quantitative determination the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The standard of allicin was synthesized [3]. According to the HPLC chromatograms, allicin content of the SNPs-treated samples was higher than sulfur-treated and control samples. Moreover, the highest level of allicin was observed at 100 ppm of SNPs. The allicin content of sulfur-treated explants was more than untreated group. In conclusion, SNPs-treated explants in comparison to sulfur-treated explants at the same concentration were induced production of alliin which was converted to allicin after cell damaging. Due to the important role of allicin on medicinal properties of Moosir, probably SNPs could be a good inducer for elevation of allicin in Moosir. References [1] – Azadi, H. G.; Ghaffari, S. M.; Riazi, G. H.; Ahmadian, S.; Vahedi, F. Antiproliferative activity of chloroformic extract of Persian Shallot, Allium hirtifolium, on tumor cell lines. Cytotechnology. 2008, 179-185. [2] – Soleimani, M.; F. Afl
