Immunomodulatory Effects of Cyperus rotundus Extract on 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) Exposed BALB/c Mice

Background: The carcinogenic substance 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was commonly used to induce tumor formation in rodents. The development of tumor may trigger higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which in turn supports tumor progression. In this study, we examined the efficacy of Cyperus rotundus extract (CRE) that was reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. We focused on investigating the levels of activated T lymphocytes and the pro-inflammatory cytokines expressed by macrophages. Methods: Female BALB/c were injected with DMBA subcutaneously. The DMBA exposed mice were given CRE orally in three different doses; 63.33, 158.4, and 316.8 mg/kg. After 14 days, the levels of activated T lymphocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed using flow cytometry. Graphical analysis was done with FlowJo v10 and followed by statistical analysis. Results: The treatment of CRE reduced the population of CD4 and CD8 T cells. The number of activated CD4 and CD8 T cells were also significantly suppressed. The population of macrophages marked by CD11b cells was significantly reduced. Finally, the CRE treatment suppressed the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6 expressed by macrophages. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CRE could be a potential agent useful in therapeutic approachesfor curing the disease caused by aberrant cells.