Antimutagenic and antirecombinagenic activities of noni fruit juice in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Genotoxicity Comparison between Morinda citrifolia Fruit and Seed Substances

This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the fruit and seed powder, fruit puree, and aqueous extracts of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae, noni). The genotoxic potential of the noni substances was evaluated using in vitro Ames, in vitro chromosomal aberration, and in vivo micronucleus tests. All test procedures were conducted per Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines, and good laboratory practice. None of the noni fruit test substances showed genotoxic signs up to 5000 and 2000 μg/plate in the Ames and micronucleus tests, respectively. In the chromosomal aberration test, neither the fruit puree nor aqueous extract showed structural and numerical aberrations up to 5000 and 4650 μg/mL, respectively, irrespective of metabolic activation, in both 6 h and 24 h treatment groups. The safe ranges of noni fruit and seed powders were up to 2500 and 2100 μg/mL, respectively, in the 6 h treatment group and up to 1600–4100 and 370–450 μg/mL, respectively, in both 6 h and 24 h treatment groups in the presence of metabolic activation. Noni fruit and seeds were safe in terms of genotoxicity under our experimental conditions. Our data are the first to provide valuable genotoxic information on Morinda citrifolia.

Human Hazard Assessment Using Drosophila Wing Spot Test as an Alternative In Vivo Model for Genotoxicity Testing-A Review

Genomic instability, one of cancer's hallmarks, is induced by genotoxins from endogenous and exogenous sources, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), diet, and environmental pollutants. A sensitive in vivo genotoxicity test is required for the identification of human hazards to reduce the potential health risk. The somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) or wing spot test is a genotoxicity assay involving Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) as a classical, alternative human model. This review describes the principle of the SMART assay in conjunction with its advantages and disadvantages and discusses applications of the assay covering all segments of health-related industries, including food, dietary supplements, drug industries, pesticides, and herbicides, as well as nanoparticles. Chemopreventive strategies are outlined as a global health trend for the anti-genotoxicity of interesting herbal extract compounds determined by SMART assay. The successful application of Drosophila for high-throughput screening of mutagens is also discussed as a future perspective.

One Plant, Many Uses: A Review of the Pharmacological Applications of Morinda citrifolia

Morinda citrifolia, also known as noni, is commonly used in popular medicine in Brazil. Many parts of the noni tree are utilized in such practices, including the roots, leaves and seeds. Through a search of online databases, the present article reviews 92 research studies on the biological actions of M. citrifolia. The paper will discuss the therapeutic effects of noni and its compounds in a variety of forms of presentation, focusing on studies that support its traditional use. A large and diverse number of properties were identified, which were divided into immunostimulatory, antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antibacterial and anti-septic, antifungal, antiviral, leishmanicidal, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and analgesic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, wound healing, antiallergic, antiangiogenic, antiemetic and anti-nausea, anti-gastric ulcer and oesophagitis, anthelmintic, antimutagenic, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, photoprotective, anti-wrinkle and periodontal tissue regeneration activities. While it was concluded that although M. citrifolia is widely and successfully used for the treatment or prevention of various diseases, it should be consumed carefully, and only after exhaustive studies into its chemical constituents and mechanisms of action, both in in vitro and in vivo models, as well as clinical trials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effects of the mycotoxin austdiol on cell cycle progression, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells

Austdiol is a mycotoxin mainly produced by Aspergillus ustus and Mycoleptodiscus indicus. These fungi are found in rye, oats, barley, corn and feed grains; thus, as a potential contaminant of human food and animal feed, this mycotoxin is of great concern. As such, the elucidation of the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of austdiol is important. In this study, austdiol was purified from a rice-oat solid medium culture of M. indicus using chromatographic separation techniques. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells were then used to study the effect of austdiol on mammalian cell cycle, clonogenicity and DNA damage. Austdiol induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, with a decreased S phase population and increased sub-G1 population. Austdiol also increased the polyploid population. These events resulted in cell death detected 7 days after treatment by clonogenic assay. DNA damage represents the main mechanism of action of austdiol, which induces DNA breaks and increases the frequency of micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges in binucleated cells in a CHO-K1 cell line. Moreover, cells exposed to austdiol and doxorubicin (DXR) combined treatments presented a reduced number of colonies and increased frequencies of micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges compared with negative control and cells treated with austdiol or DXR alone.