Immunostimulation by plant polyphenols: A relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α production and tannin structure

The ability of the naturally occurring tumoricidal ellagitannin coriariin A to stimulate secretion of both IL-1β and TNF-α from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been demonstrated. Companion studies with the monomeric gallotanmin β- -pentagalloylglucose and a synthesized dimeric gallotannin-ellagitannin hybrid suggest that TNF-α rather than IL-1β is the causative agent in tannin-mediated antitumor action in vivo, in contrast to an earlier proposal.