Author/Authors :
Azimi Mohamadabadi, Maryam Department of Immunology - School of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran , Muhammad Hassan, Zuhair Department of Immunology - School of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran , Zavaran Hosseini, Ahmad Department of Immunology - School of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran , Noori, Shekoofe Department of Biochemistry - School of Medical Sciences - Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran , Mahdavi, Mehdi Department of Virology - Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran , Maroufizadeh, Saman Department of Biostatistics - School of Medical Sciences - Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran , Maroof, Hamidreza Department of Microbiology - Zanjan Branch - Islamic Azad University, Zanjan
Abstract :
Recent studies have indicated the profound anti-tumor activity of artemisinin's
compounds, among which; arteether is an oil-soluble derivative of artemisinin with an
endoperoxide bridge that can induce apoptosis in tumor cells but not in the normal cells.
An experiment was carried out on tumor-bearing Balb/c mice to estimate the effects of
Arteether on tumor growth and antitumor immune responses. Briefly, 6mg/kg/day of
Arteether and diluents were administered to two groups of mice. Tumor sizes were measured
using digital verniercallipers. Mice were sacrificed and splenocytes were harvested for
lymphocyte proliferation assay, the level of IL-4 and IFN-+ cytokines, and the percentage of
splenic T regulatory cells were measured.
According to the findings, there were no statistical differences between the groups with
respect to the level of IFN-+, IL-4 and proliferation assay; while our results showed that
Arteether is effective in the reduction of tumor growth rate.
In general, intra-tumoral injection of Arteether as an oil-soluble derivative of artemisinin
brings to light some antitumor properties that may aid in development of more effective
antitumor agents.
