Abstract

Background: Among the various methods of cancer treatment, the method is more considered which has the most toxicity on the cancerous cells and the minimal side effects on patients’ healthy cells. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds which due to their biochemical and therapeutic effects have attracted scientists’ attention. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of apigenin as a flavonoid in anti-tumor immunity and tumor-growth inhibition. Methods: This study was carried out on Balb/c tumor-bearing mice, aged from six to eight weeks. First, the optimized dose of apigenin was determined through delayed-typed hypersensitivity (DTH) test. Then, breast cancer tumor were induced through tissue transplant method and after 12 days of treatment, their spleen lymphocyte proliferation and spleen lymphocyte cytokine production were assessed via measuring the amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Findings: Apigenin caused an increased delayed-typed hypersensitivity (P < 0.05), decreased tumor volume (P < 0.05), increased the IFN-γ level (P < 0.05) and decreased the IL-4 level (P < 0.05). As well as the lymphocyte proliferation in apigenin-treated mice increased significantly in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Apigenin can cause an increased delayed-typed hypersensitivity in Balb/c female mice and decreased tumor-growth in tumor-bearing mice and can alter the cytokine ratio to IFN-γ. Increase of IFN-γ and decrease of IL-4 in apigenin-treated mice show that apigenin can switch the mouse immune system towards Th1 and cell-mediated immune responses. Considering this issue can be expected that apigenin is a proper drug for cancer treatment. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All Rights Reserved.