title: Immunomodulatory activity of aged garlic extract against implanted fibrosarcoma tumor in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Garlic is known as a medicinal herb with broad therapeutic properties ranging from antibacterial to anticancer and even anticoagulant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Current study was designed to evaluate antitumor effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on fibrosarcoma tumor in BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma cells were implanted subcutaneously on day zero into right flank of 40 BALB/c mice aged eight weeks. Mice were randomly categorized in two separate groups: 1(st) received AGE (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), 2(nd) group as control received phosphate buffered saline, (PBS). Treatments were done three times per week. Tumor growth was measured and morbidity was recorded. Subpopulations of CD4+/CD8+ T cells were determined using flow cytometry. WEHI-164 cell specific cytotoxicity of splenocytes and in vitro production of gamma-interferon, (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-4, (IL-4) cytokines were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mice received AGE had significantly longer survival time compared to control mice. The inhibitory effect on tumor growth was seen in AGE treated mice. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio and in vitro IFN-γ production of splenocytes were significantly increased in AGE group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of AGE resulted in improved immune responses against experimentally implanted fibrosarcoma tumors in BALB/c mice. AGE showed significant effects on inhibition of tumor growth and longevity of survival times.
authors.affiliation: Center for Development and Cooperation of Research and Technology, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallah-Rostami
authors.forename: Mohaddeseh Abouhosseini
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tabari
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Esfandiari
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aghajanzadeh
authors.forename: Manijeh Yousefi
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Behzadi
keywords: Aged garlic extract; BALB/c mice; Fibrosarcoma; Immune responses; Tumor therapy