Effect of Tilia x Viridis Flower Extract on the Proliferation of Lymphoma Cell Line and on Normal Murine Lymphocites:Contribution of Monoterpenes,Especially limonene

M. MANUELLE; G. FERRARO; C. ANESINI

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH

Jhon Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Año: 2008 vol. 22 p. 1520 - 1526

0951-418X

    Tilia species are widely used in Europe as medicinal plants. Tilias`s flowers are used for the treatment of feverish, colds, inflammation disorders, bronchitis, catarrh and cellular regeneration. Previously it was demonstrated that a dichloromethane extract (DME) from Tilia cordata presented a selective antiproliferative action on a lymphoma cell line. In order to extend this study to other Tilia specie not investigated, a DME  of Tilia x viridis (Bayer) Simonk., nothosubsp. moltkei (dippel) Xifreda was analyzed on the proliferation of tumor and normal murine lymphocytes. From a bioguided fractionation of  DME  a fraction rich in limonene (L), α-pinene and β-pinene, was obtained, this fraction presented a selective antiproliferative action on tumor lymphocytes (EC50 on tumor cells: 3.8 ± 0.2 µg/ml; EC50 on normal cells:  205 ± 1.8 µg/ml). The monoterpenes exerted antiprolifetative action on tumor cells, among them limonene was the most active (EC50 on tumor cells: 35 ± 2.0 µg/ml; EC50 on normal cells: 72 ± 5.0 µg/ml), also exerted stimulatory effect on non-mitogen stimulated lymphocytes proliferation (% of stimulation respect to control) (Mean ± SEM) : L 10 µg/ml: 25 ± 1.0 %; 20 µg/ml: 38.5 ± 2.5 %; L 40 µg/ml: 41 ± 0.9 %; L 60 µg/ml: 58.5 ± 3 %.  Tilia x viridis may constitute a potential source for monoterpenes with immunomodulatory activity.