This paper describes effects of several sulfur-containing compounds from garlic on the cell viability, apoptosis and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In both preadipocytes and mature adipocytes, 100 and 200 |iM ajoene significantly decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. The effect on apoptosis was further confirmed with Hoechst staining. In contrast, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, deoxyalliin, and allyl methyl sulfide had no significant effect on cell viability or apoptosis in either preadipocytes or mature adipocytes. In maturing preadipocytes ajoene significantly decreased lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner and these results were further confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. There was no significant change in lipid accumulation in maturing preadipocytes treated with other garlic derivatives. Thus, despite the same source of origin, garlic, ajoene was the only one with potent effects on cell viability, apoptosis and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.