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.

Ethics Approval

All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals published by the US National Institutes of Health. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Fattouma-Bourguiba of Monastir, Tunisia. Consent for publication: not applicable.

Availability of Data and Material

Address to the authors for the uses of the images and data included in the manuscript.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the ‘‘Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, Tunisia,” for the support of this study.

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that they have no financial competing interests.