Antitumoral Potency by Immunomodulation of Chloroform Extract from Leaves of Nitraria retusa, Tunisian Medicinal Plant, via its Major Compounds β-sitosterol and Palmitic Acid in BALB/c Mice Bearing Induced Tumor

Abstract

This study evaluated the antitumoral effect of Chloroform extract from Nitraria retusa leaves, via its major compounds β-sitosterols and palmitic acid. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with B16-F10 cells, then treated intra-peritoneally after 7 days with the chloroform extract for 21 days. They were then euthanized, and the tumors were weighed. Lung parenchyma was analyzed. Lymphocyte and macrophages proliferation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities were evaluated using the MTT assay. Macrophage phagocytosis was evaluated by measuring the lysosomal activity and nitric oxide production. Antioxidant activity was studied by cellular antioxidant activity on macrophage and splenocytes and by lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity in liver cells, kidney, and serum. β-sitosterols and palmitic acid, major compounds of chloroform extract, impeded remarkably the expansion of the transplantable tumor, protected the lung parenchyma, and increased splenocytes proliferation and both CTL activities in tumor-bearing mice. β-sitosterols and palmitic acid were also seen to have enhanced lysosomal activity of host macrophages and antioxidant cellular activity. Also, they showed an inhibitory effect of lipid peroxidation. Our results suggest that antitumoral effect of β-sitosterols and palmitic acid from chloroform extract is related with its immunomodulatory activity, and opens the way for a nutrition application and coprocessing phytotherapy against cancer.

Antioxidant capacity of Nitraria retusa leaf extracts against mitomycin C-induced genetic toxicity in male mice

“…They suggested that the protective action of N. retusa fruit extract could result from its content of the phenolic compounds. Boubaker et al (2018) indicated that treatment of tumor-induced mice with leaf extracts of N. retusa showed anti-tumor activity which was attributed to its most important components in the N. retusa, namely, palmitic acid and β-sitosterols (Boubaker, Chaabane, et al, 2015a;Boubaker, Mokdad Bzeouich, et al, 2015b).…”

Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction and Verification of the Potential Mechanisms of He’s Yangchao Formula against Diminished Ovarian Reserve

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Research progress of ginseng in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

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