Immunotoxicity of a standardized citrus polymethoxylated flavone extract

Food Chem Toxicol. 2001 Nov;39(11):1087-94. doi: 10.1016/s0278-6915(01)00058-8.

Abstract

Polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) from citrus inhibit production of TNF-alpha and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. As TNF-alpha also modulates NK cell activity, the current studies were conducted to assess the potential for a standardized citrus PMF mixture to suppress humoral and innate immune functions. PMFs were isolated from orange peel oil using a procedure that obtained a consistent mixture of PMFs both in identity and proportion. The mixture consisted of nobiletin (30.7%), 3,3',4',5,6,7,8-heptamethoxyflavone (27.9%), trimethylscutellarein (14.5%), tangeretin (10.4%), sinensetin (5.8%), 5-demethyl-nobiletin (2.0%), hexa-O-methylquercetagetin (1.3%), 5-demethyl-tetramethylscutellarein (0.6%), and other flavonoids (2.7%). To assess the effect of the PMF mixture on humoral immune responses, female B(6)C(3)F(1) mice (n=8) were exposed to the PMF by gavage at 5, 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg/day for 28 days. On day 25, mice were sensitized to sRBC by tail vein injection and AFC response determined 4 days later. Humoral immunity was insensitive to suppression following exposure to all concentrations of the PMF mixture. Suppression of NK cell activity was observed only following 500 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Body weights were not affected by exposure to any concentration of the PMF mixture in sRBC immunized or non-immunized mice. However, in sRBC-immunized mice, higher concentrations of PMF were associated with a statistically insignificant increase in spleen weight (P>0.05). No change in spleen weight was observed in non-immunized mice. As anticipated, based on previously published in vitro observations, long-term, high-dose exposure to a standardized mixture of citrus PMFs caused a mild suppression of NK cell activity; however, humoral immunity was not sensitive to suppression at the same exposure levels.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / drug effects
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Chromium Radioisotopes
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / toxicity
  • Hemolytic Plaque Technique
  • Immunotoxins / toxicity*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Plant Oils / toxicity
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects

Substances

  • Chromium Radioisotopes
  • Flavonoids
  • Immunotoxins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Oils