title: Augmentation of natural killer cell activity in vitro against tumor cells by wild plants from Jordan.
abstract: Thirteen aqueous extracts prepared from Jordanian plants, that are currently used in traditional medicine to treat various types of cancer, were tested in mice for their ability to augment natural killer (NK) cell function in vitro in generating cytotoxicity against YAC tumor targets. Lymphoid cells at a concentration of 5x10(6)/ml were incubated in medium alone or in medium containing different dilutions of either plant extract or purified interferon alpha for 20 h and tested for NK activity. Maximum NK activity (62. 3%) was obtained at 1:50 dilution of Nigella sativum fresh aqueous extract, 48.5% at 1:100 dilution for Allium sativum (and 38.3% at 1:50 dilution for Onopordum acanthium. Fresh aqueous plant extracts appeared to be more potent than old dried aqueous extract or ethanolic extracts. NK augmentation by plant extracts using nylon wool non-adherent spleen cells was slightly higher than the whole spleen cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. harfeil@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Abuharfeil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maraqa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Von Kleist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D007597:Jordan; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D010936:Plant Extracts