EFFECTS OF LUTEIN FROM MARIGOLD EXTRACT ON IMMUNITY AND GROWTH OF MAMMARY-TUMORS IN MICE

The effects of dietary lutein from marigold extract on the development and growth of a transplantable murine mammary tumor and on lumphocyte function were investigated. Mice were fed a diet containing 0.1% or 0 .4% of lutein. In experiment 1, mice were fed the diets for 3 weeks an d infused with mammary tumor cells into the mammary gland. Dietary lut ein increased tumor latency and inhibited mammary tumor growth in a do se-dependent manner. The incidence of palpable tumors on day 28 post-i nfusion and final tumor weight were lower in mice fed lutein. In exper iment 2, dietary lutein enhanced phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation but had no effect on interleukin-2 production of lympho cyte cytotoxicity. Therefore dietary lutein increased tumor latency, s uppressed mammary tumor growth and enhanced lymphocyte proliferation.