An aqueous extract of Limoniastrum guyonianum gall induces anti-tumor effects in melanoma-injected mice via modulation of the immune response.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor potential of the aqueous gall extract (G extract) from Limoniastrum guyonianum and to elucidate its immunological mechanisms, in part, by assessing its effects on the growth of transplanted tumors and the immune response in these tumor-bearing mice. Here, mice were inoculated with B16F10 mouse tumor cells and then treated intraperitoneally with G extract at 25 or 50 mg extract/kg BW for 7, 14, or 21 days. At each timepoint, effects of the extract on the tumor growth, splenocytes proliferation, NK cell activity, and CTL activity among splenocytes isolated from the mice were measured. G extract-induced tumor growth inhibition was associated with characteristic apoptotic changes in the tumor cells, like nuclear condensation. In addition, the extract inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity among melanoma cells in a concentration-related manner. G extract did not only significantly inhibit the growth of the transplantable tumor, but also remarkably increased splenocytes proliferation and both NK and CTL activities in tumor-bearing mice. The extract was also seen to have promoted lysosomal activity of host macrophages and gave rise to enhanced cellular anti-oxidant activity in several cell types in mice.
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia. Electronic address: mounirakrifa@yahoo.fr.
Mounira
M
Krifa
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia.
Ines
I
Skandrani
ENSTIB/LERMAB, Epinal, France.
Antonio
A
Pizzi
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia.
Nouha
N
Nasr
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia.
Zied
Z
Ghedira
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia.
Nadia
N
Mustapha
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia.
Kamel
K
Ghedira
Division of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy at Monastir, Tunisia; Laboratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine at Monastir, Rue Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
Leila
L
Chekir-Ghedira
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029606:Plumbaginaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008543:Melanins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
Anti-tumor; G extract; Immunomodulator; Melanoma; Mice