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Artemisinin (ART) is a sesquiterpene lactone. Possessing an endoperoxide bridge is unique among ant-imalarial drugs, and now much attention is focused on the anti-cancer properties of ART. In this study we aimed at the immunomodulatory effects of artemisinin in the treatment of breast cancer in comparison to the conventional anti-cancer drug, cyclophasphamide (CTX).

We examined delayed-type hypersensitivity, antibody and IL-4 and IFNγ production, tumour volume, tumour infiltrated regulatory T cells (Treg) and spleen lymphocyte proliferation assay. Briefly three groups of five 4–6week old female Balb/c tumour-bearing mice (mouse mammary tumour) were treated with 2.8mg/kg ART and 20mg/kg CTX intraperitoneally for 20 consecutive days. Tumour volume was measured using a digital vernier calliper (with accuracy of 0.01). Mice were sacrificed and percentage of tumour …