Immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of triterpenoid fractions from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis

Aim of the studyThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo antitumor potential of the triterpenoid fraction from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis (Saxifragaceae) (Saxifragaceae) (ATF) and to elucidate its immunological mechanisms by determining its effects on the growth of mouse transplanted tumors and the immune response in naïve and tumor-bearing mice.Materials and methodsThe mice inoculated with mouse tumor cell lines were treated per os with ATF at the doses of 20, 40, 60 mg/kg for 10 days. The effects of ATF on the growth of transplantable tumor, splenocyte proliferation, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from splenocytes in tumor-bearing mice were measured. Meanwhile, the effects of ATF on 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction and the sheep red blood cell (SRBC)-induced antibody response in naïve mice were also studied.ResultsATF could not only significantly inhibit the growth of mice transplantable tumor, but also remarkably increase splenocytes proliferation, NK cells activity, and the level of IL-2 secreted by splenocytes in tumor-bearing mice, promote the DTH reaction and enhance anti-SRBC antibody level in naïve mice, which indicated that the ATF could improve both specific and non-specific cellular and humoral immune response.ConclusionsThe antitumor activity of ATF might be achieved by improving immune response, and ATF could act as antitumor agent with immunomodulatory activity.