Suppressive effect of lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm. f.) extract toward pro-tumor immune response in DMBA-induced carcinogenesis mouse

Putra, Wira Eka; Nuruzzulfa, Chalissa; Mahabella, Dea Esaayu; Intania Nuraıda, Ramdhani Faradilla; Hıdayatullah, Arief; Rifa’i, Muhaimin

doi:10.22038/ajp.2025.26348

Suppressive effect of lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm. f.) extract toward pro-tumor immune response in DMBA-induced carcinogenesis mouse

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Wira Eka Putra ¹

Chalissa Nuruzzulfa ²

Dea Esaayu Mahabella ²

Ramdhani Faradilla Intania Nuraıda ²

Arief Hıdayatullah ³

Muhaimin Rifa’i ²

¹ Biotechnology Study Program, Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

² Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Brawijaya University, East Java, Indonesia

³ Democratic Governance and Poverty Reduction Unit, United Nations Development Programme, Eijkman-RSCM Building, Jakarta, Indonesia.

10.22038/ajp.2025.26348

Abstract

Objective: Cancer is a worldwide health issue which recognized as a chronic condition resulting from the unregulated growth of abnormal cells. Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most often diagnosed malignancy among all genders, with a projected three million new cases by 2040. Many treatment options are available, however, latest therapies are associated with undesirable side effects. Citrus limon is among the medicinal plants recognized to have immunomodulatory properties. This research aimed to examine the immunomodulatory effect of C. limon extract (CLE) in 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis mice.
Materials and Methods: The treatment group consisted of four subgroups: a vehicle control group, a DMBA induction group, a CLE 50 group, and a CLE 200 group. Flow cytometry was used to assess the proportions of the following cell populations: Gr-1⁺, CD68⁺IL-17⁺, CD68⁺TNF-α⁺, NK1.1⁺, CD4⁺CD25⁺, and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD62L⁺.
Results: In this study, we discovered that CLE reduces the number of immune system profiles to normal levels, including granulocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, and effector T cells, while increasing the population of regulator T cells to normal levels. Moreover, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) evaluation showed that several significant CLE compounds meet the drug-like requirements.
Conclusion: This research revealed that CLE might be developed as a supplemental or additional cancer treatment.

Keywords

Adaptive immunity

Cancer

Citrus limon

Immunomodulatory

Innate immunity

Subjects