Anticancer Effects of Extracts from the Fruit of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

A review on the gastrointestinal protective effects of tropical fruit polyphenols

Tropical fruits are popular because of their unique, delicious flavors and good nutritional value. Polyphenols are considered to be the main bioactive ingredients in tropical fruits, and these exert a series of beneficial effects on the human gastrointestinal tract that can enhance intestinal health and prevent intestinal diseases. Moreover, they are distinct from the polyphenols in fruits grown in other geographical zones. Thus, the comprehensive effects of polyphenols in tropical fruits on gut health warrant in-depth review. This article reviews, first, the biological characteristics of several representative tropical fruits, including mango, avocado, noni, cashew apple, passion fruit and lychee; second, the types and content of the main polyphenols in these tropical fruits; third, the effects of each of these fruit polyphenols on gastrointestinal health; and, fourth, the protective mechanism of polyphenols. Polyphenols and their metabolites play a crucial role in the regulation of the gut microbiota, increasing intestinal barrier function, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors and regulating immune function. Thus, review highlights the value of tropical fruits, highlighting their significance for future research on their applications as functional foods that are oriented to gastrointestinal protection.

Cancer and apoptosis: The apoptotic activity of plant and marine natural products and their potential as targeted cancer therapeutics

Cancer is a multifactorial, multi-stage disease, including complex cascades of signaling pathways—the cell growth governed by dysregulated and abrupt cell division. Due to the complexity and multi-regulatory cancer progression, cancer is still a challenging disease to treat and survive. The screening of extracts and fractions from plants and marine species might lead to the discovery of more effective compounds for cancer therapeutics. The isolated compounds and reformed analogs were known as future prospective contenders for anti-cancer chemotherapy. For example, Taxol, a potent mitotic inhibitor discovered from Taxus brevifolia, suppresses cell growth and arrest, induces apoptosis, and inhibits proliferation. Similarly, marine sponges show remarkable tumor chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic potential. However, there is limited research to date. Several plants and marine-derived anti-cancer compounds having the property to induce apoptosis have been approved for clinical trials. The anti-cancer activity kills the cell and slows the growth of cancer cells. Among cell death mechanisms, apoptosis induction is a more profound mechanism of cell death triggered by naturally isolated anti-cancer agents. Evading apoptosis is the major hurdle in killing cancer cells, a mechanism mainly regulated as intrinsic and extrinsic. However, it is possible to modify the apoptosis-resistant phenotype of the cell by altering many of these mechanisms. Various extracts and fractions successfully induce apoptosis, cell-cycle modulation, apoptosis, and anti-proliferative activity. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop new anti-cancer drugs of natural origins to reduce the effects on normal cells. Here, we’ve emphasized the most critical elements: i) A better understanding of cancer progression and development and its origins, ii) Molecular strategies to inhibit the cell proliferation/Carcino-genesis, iii) Critical regulators of cancer cell proliferation and development, iv) Signaling Pathways in Apoptosis: Potential Targets for targeted therapeutics, v) Why Apoptosis induction is mandatory for effective chemotherapy, vi) Plants extracts/fractions as potential apoptotic inducers, vii) Marine extracts as Apoptotic inducers, viii) Marine isolated Targeted compounds as Apoptotic inducers (FDA Approved/treatment Phase). This study provides a potential therapeutic option for cancer, although more clinical studies are needed to verify its efficacy in cancer chemotherapy.

Therapeutic effects of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) seeds on irinotecan-induced intestinal mucositis in mice

This work aimed to evaluate the activity of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. seeds, McLTP₁, on the development of intestinal mucositis following irinotecan administration. McLTP₁ (0.5, 2, and 8 mg/kg, i.v.) was injected into mice 1h before irinotecan administration (75 mg/kg, i.p.; 4 days), and then for additional 6 days. Seven days after the first dose of irinotecan, diarrhea was assessed, and the intestine was removed for histological evaluation, assessment of intestinal over-contractility, measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO), proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine (IL-1, IL-6, and KC levels - a murine homolog of human IL-8 chemokine), analysis of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. At the two highest doses, McLTP₁ administration decreased mortality and diarrhea. McLTP₁ (8 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly prevented irinotecan-induced intestinal damage and led to a reduction in over-contractility of the intestinal muscle (p < 0.05). Moreover, McLTP₁ decreased the MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, and KC levels by 74.7%, 42%, 92.9%, and 95.9%, respectively. Also, the expression of COX-2, NF-κB, and iNOS was reduced. Our study provides a potential new therapeutic for preventing irinotecan-induced mucositis, improved clinical parameters, and reduced inflammation.

Breast Cancer: A Global Concern, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Perspectives, Mechanistic Targets in Drug Development

Cancer is a complex multifactorial process, unchecked and abrupt division, and cell growth—conventional chemotherapy, along with radiotherapy, is used to treat breast cancer. Due to reduce efficacy and less survival rate, there is a particular need for the discovery of new active anticancer agents. Natural resources such as terrestrial/marine plants or organisms are a promising source for the generation of new therapeutics with improving efficacy. The screening of natural plant extracts and fractions, isolations of phytochemicals, and mechanistic study of those potential compounds play a remarkable role in the development of new therapeutic drugs with increased efficacy. Cancer is a multistage disease with complex signaling cascades. The initial study of screening whole extracts or fractions and later the isolation of secondary compounds and their mechanism of action study gives a clue of potential therapeutic agents for future drug development. The phytochemicals present in extracts/fractions produce remarkable effects due to synergistically targeting multiple signals. In this review, the molecular targets of extracts/ fractions and isolated compounds highlighted. The therapeutic agent's mechanistic targets in drug development focused involves; i) Induction of Apoptosis, ii) modulating cell cycle arrest, iii) Inhibition or suppression of invasion and metastasis and iv) various other pro-survival signaling pathways. The phytochemicals and their modified analogs identified as future potential candidates for anticancer chemotherapy.

Effects of noni on cellular viability and osteogenic differentiation of gingiva-derived stem cells demonstrated by RNA sequencing and quantitative PCR

Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) has been widely used in traditional medicine across tropical and subtropical regions, and is now being paid more attention in Western medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of noni extract on the change in the cellular morphology, maintenance of cellular viability and enhancement of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. Stem cells obtained from gingiva were cultured where noni extracts existed at concentrations ranging from 10-200 ng/ml. Evaluations of cell morphology and cellular viability were performed. Alkaline phosphatase activity assays were performed to assess the osteogenic differentiation. Alizarin Red S staining was performed to evaluate the calcium deposits in the culture, with the addition of noni extract. Global gene expression was analyzed via next-generation mRNA sequencing. Gene ontology and pathway analyses were performed to determine the associated mechanisms. Validation procedures were performed via quantitative (q)PCR analysis. The addition of noni at concentrations ranging from 10-200 ng/ml did not produce significant morphological changes. There were significantly higher values of cellular viability, with the highest value at 100 ng/ml compared with the control (P<0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher values of alkaline phosphatase activity was noted in the 10 and 100 ng/ml groups compared with the 0 ng/ml group on day 7 (P<0.05). Alizarin Red S staining revealed calcium deposits in each group. In addition, the highest value for Alizarin Red S staining was observed at 100 ng/ml compared with the unloaded control (P<0.05). qPCR analysis demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of RUNX2, BSP, OCN and COL1A1 increased following treatment with noni. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that noni extract has enhancing effects on gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells, by enhancing cellular viability and osteogenic differentiation.

Anticancer effects of the combined Thai noni juice ethanolic extracts and 5-fluorouracil against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is limited by adverse side effects and chemoresistance. Therefore, the combination therapy of 5-FU with other substances, especially natural products may provide a new strategy for CCA treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination effects of 5-FU and two ethanolic extracts of Thai noni juice (TNJ) products on CCA cell lines and nude mice xenografts. The results of antiproliferative assay showed the combination treatment of 5-FU and each TNJ ethanolic extract exerted more cytotoxicity on CCA cells than either single agent treatment. Synergistic effects of drug combinations can enable the dose reduction of 5-FU. The mechanism underlying a combination treatment was apoptosis induction through an activation of p53 and Bax proteins. In the nude mouse xenograft model, combination treatments of 5-FU with each TNJ ethanolic extract suppressed the growth of CCA cells implanted mice more than single agent treatments with no effects on mouse body weight, kidney, and spleen. Moreover, low doses of TNJ ethanolic extracts reduced the hepatotoxicity of 5-FU in nude mice. Taken together, these data suggested that the ethanolic extracts of TNJ products can enhance the anti-CCA effect and reduce toxicity of 5-FU.

Polysaccharides and polyphenol in dried Morinda citrifolia fruit tea after different processing conditions: Optimization analysis using response surface methodology

The increasing popularity of Morinda citrifolia has many medical and health benefits because of its rich polysaccharides (PSC) and polyphenols (PPN). It has become popular to brew the dry M. citrifolia fruit slice as tea in some regions of China. In this study, optimize the extraction parameters of M. citrifolia fruit tea polysaccharides and polyphenols using response surface methodology. The results indicated the highest PSC yield of 17% at 46 °C for 11 min and the ratio of water/M. citrifolia fruit powder was 78 mL/g. The optimum extraction of PPN was at 95 °C for 10 min and the ratio of water/M. citrifolia fruit powder 90 mL/g, with 8.93% yield. Using dry M. citrifolia fruit slices as a tea is reported for the first time. Based on the results, the maximum level of PSC can be obtained under condition by infusing about four dried M. citrifolia fruit slice with average thickness and size in warm boiled water for 11 min, taking a 300 mL cup (300 mL of water) for example. The maximum level of PPN can be obtained by adding three slices of dried M. citrifolia fruit slice to boiled water for 10 min. Considering the powder used in our study, the further pulverization of cutting into powder is more conducive to material precipitation. This study provides a scientific basis for obtaining PSC and PPN from dry M. citrifolia fruit slice tea by brewing.

The complete chloroplast genome of Morinda citrifolia (noni)

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), commonly called noni, is a medicinal plant that is often used as botanical dietary supplement. This study is the first to report and characterize the complete chloroplast genome of M. citrifolia. We found that it contains 153,113 bp with a GC content of 38.05%, consisting of two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,588 bp), a large single-copy region (LSC, 83,974 bp), and a small single copy (SSC, 17,963 bp) region. One hundred and twenty-five genes were annotated, including 84 protein-coding genes, 33 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that M. citrifolia and Gynochthodes officinalis were closely related. Overall, this study provided a wealth of information for a follow-up phylogenetic and evolutionary study of the Gentianales.

Immunomodulatory actions of a Polynesian herb Noni (Morinda citrifolia) and its clinical applications

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is a popular traditional medicinal plant consumed in various forms in several countries around the world as a complementary and alternative treatment due to its established health benefits. Noni is rich in bioactive substances and has significantly exhibited pro-oxidant and immunomodulatory effects. In this review, we highlight the pharmacological basis related to the phytochemicals and polysaccharides present in Noni and its potential therapeutic effects. We screened electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus for scientific literature. Our results indicate that Noni is beneficial for various diseases with its crude extracts showing therapeutic benefit for a wide range of pathological diseases. We believe that further pharmacological and toxicological studies in addition to well-designed controlled clinical trials can validate Noni to be an effective and novel natural product for prophylactic and therapeutic use of several diseases.

Polyphenols as Promising Drugs against Main Breast Cancer Signatures

Breast cancer is one of the most common neoplasms worldwide, and in spite of clinical and pharmacological advances, it is still a clinical problem, causing morbidity and mortality. On the one hand, breast cancer shares with other neoplasms some molecular signatures such as an imbalanced redox state, cell cycle alterations, increased proliferation and an inflammatory status. On the other hand, breast cancer shows differential molecular subtypes that determine its prognosis and treatment. These are characterized mainly by hormone receptors especially estrogen receptors (ERs) and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Tumors with none of these receptors are classified as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and are associated with a worse prognosis. The success of treatments partially depends on their specificity and the adequate molecular classification of tumors. New advances in anticancer drug discovery using natural compounds have been made in the last few decades, and polyphenols have emerged as promising molecules. They may act on various molecular targets because of their promiscuous behavior, presenting several physiological effects, some of which confer antitumor activity. This review analyzes the accumulated evidence of the antitumor effects of plant polyphenols on breast cancer, with special attention to their activity on ERs and HER2 targets and also covering different aspects such as redox balance, uncontrolled proliferation and chronic inflammation.

Co-delivery of hesperetin enhanced bicalutamide induced apoptosis by exploiting mitochondrial membrane potential via polymeric nanoparticles in a PC-3 cell line

In this research, we reported the co-delivery of anti-androgen drug Bicalutamide with Hesperetin in chitosan coated polycaprolactone nanoparticles to increase their therapeutic efficacy against an androgen independent prostate cancer cell lines.

Protective Effects of Tinospora crispa Stem Extract on Renal Damage and Hemolysis during Plasmodium berghei Infection in Mice

Renal damage and hemolysis induced by malaria are associated with mortality in adult patients. It has been speculated that oxidative stress condition induced by malaria infection is involved in its pathology. Thus, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Tinospora crispa stem extract on renal damage and hemolysis during Plasmodium berghei infection. T. crispa stem extract was prepared using hot water method and used for oral treatment in mice. Groups of ICR mice were infected with 1 × 10⁷ parasitized erythrocytes of P. berghei ANKA by intraperitoneal injection and given the extracts (500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) twice a day for 4 consecutive days. To assess renal damage and hemolysis, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and hematocrit (%Hct) levels were then evaluated, respectively. Malaria infection resulted in renal damage and hemolysis as indicated by increasing of BUN and creatinine and decreasing of %Hct, respectively. However, protective effects on renal damage and hemolysis were observed in infected mice treated with these extracts at doses of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. In conclusion, T. crispa stem extract exerted protective effects on renal damage and hemolysis induced by malaria infection. This plant may work as potential source in the development of variety of herbal formulations for malarial treatment.