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Literature Review Special Issue Palm Oil in Health and Technology
Immunomodulatory properties of palm oil derivatives in cancer immunotherapy: A systematic review of preclinical evidence
Loso Judijanto
Received: May 20, 2026 | Published: June 8, 2026
Citation: Judijanto L. Immunomodulatory properties of palm oil derivatives in cancer immunotherapy: A systematic review of preclinical evidence. Open Access J Sci. 2026;9(1):274-284. DOI: 10.15406/oajs.2026.09.00311
Abstract
Research efforts have increasingly explored natural bioactive compounds for their potential contribution to the regulation of immune mechanisms involved in cancer biology. Compounds derived from Elaeis guineensis contain several phytonutrients associated with antioxidant activity and immune signaling. However, current evidence on their immunomodulatory roles remains dispersed across experimental studies, highlighting the need for a systematic synthesis of preclinical findings. This study aims to synthesize existing evidence regarding the immunomodulatory properties of bioactive compounds derived from Palm Oil in experimental cancer models relevant to immunotherapy research. The analysis focuses on immune-related mechanisms, including cytokine regulation, immune cell activation, oxidative stress responses, and tumor microenvironment dynamics. The research employed a Systematic Literature Review following the PRISMA framework. Data were collected through structured searches in the Scopus database using predefined keywords. From an initial dataset of 400 records, a total of 31 preclinical studies were included after applying sequential filters related to relevance, publication year (2019–2025), language, and openaccess status. The data were analyzed using qualitative thematic synthesis. The findings identified four main mechanisms: cytokine signaling modulation, activation of immune effector cells involved in tumor surveillance, antioxidant protection of immune cells, and regulation of tumor microenvironment pathways. Frequently studied compounds include Tocotrienols, Carotenoids, and Phytosterols. Overall, current preclinical evidence indicates that palm-derived phytonutrients interact with several immune-related pathways relevant to cancer immunology, while further experimental research is required to expand mechanistic understanding.
Keywords: palm oil derivatives, immunomodulation, cancer immunology, tocotrienols, systematic review
©2026 Judijanto. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.