El Noni emerge en la medicina moderna como una planta que puede contribuir en nuestra búsqueda de la erradicación de enfermedades, la promoción de la salud y la longevidad.
-
Previene y protege contra el cáncer: la Morinda citrifolia podría ejercer una acción preventiva contra el cáncer en su etapa inicial, la primera fase en la formación del cáncer. Para muchos resulta importante la actividad antioxidante del Noni y es una de las razones por las que tantas personas han informado de éxito al utilizar el Noni para combatir el cáncer.
-
Alivia síntomas de artritis: hay varias maneras por las cuales el Noni puede dar alivio de los indeseados síntomas de la artritis. El dolor es la queja principal con la artritis. Debido a las cualidades analgésicas del Noni, puede ayudar a aliviar el dolor. Se ha demostrado que la Morinda citrifolia contiene escopoletina, la cual tiene efectos antiinflamatorios e inhibidores de histamina, ambos muy eficaces en la promoción de una articulación fácil. Es posible que las cualidades del Noni para mejorar las células también minimicen el daño en articulaciones y otros tejidos relacionados.
-
Combate la enfermedad cardiaca: puede ayudar con la tensión arterial alta, la enfermedad cardiaca y la apoplejía. Algunos científicos creen que la xeronina puede ayudar a promover una estructura celular sana dentro del sistema circulatorio. El NONI también puede disminuir los síntomas de enfermedad cardiaca.
-
Baja la hipertensión arterial: En mi investigación, el 85 por ciento de los consumidores de NONI informaron que su presión sanguínea disminuía cuando tomaban NONI.
-
Fortalece el sistema inmune: puede ayudar a fortalecer el sistema inmunitario general y ayuda a preservar una salud óptima. Puede ayudar a modular un sistema inmunitario sano bien sea mejorando un sistema que ya funciona bien o estimulando los componentes de un sistema insuficiente, o disminuyendo la actividad de un sistema inmunitario hiperactivo. El mecanismo que emplea el Jugo Noni para ejecutar estas diferentes funciones se llama adaptogénesis
-
Reduce los síntomas de fibromialgia: muchas personas que padecen fibromialgia sienten pérdida de energía. Un efecto colateral muy positivo del Noni es el aumento de energía. El setenta y siete por ciento de los pacientes de fibromialgia reportaron una disminución de los síntomas después de comenzar a tomar Noni.
-
Fortifica la estructura celular: fortifica y ayuda a mantener la estructura celular. Esto puede lograrse porque el Jugo Noni actúa como un adaptógeno que puede ayudar a las células “enfermas” a repararse a sí mismas.
-
Ayuda a controlar la diabetes: puede ayudar en la regulación de la secreción de insulina por el páncreas, ayudando así a controlar la diabetes. Beber Noni puede ayudar a aliviar síntomas diabéticos mediante la propiedad de estimular la producción corporal de escopoletina e indirectamente la de oxido nítrico. Ambos son factores importantes para disminuir síntomas tales como los de la circulación pobre y trastornos de la visión.
-
Reduce los síntomas de asma: puede ayudar a reducir la gravedad de los síntomas de asma al fortalecer y regular el sistema inmunitario y mejorar la estructura celular de los bronquíolos.
-
Combate la depresión: regular sustancias bioquímicas naturales tales como las hormonas cerebrales puede ser la razón de que muchas personas se hayan sentido menos deprimidas después de beber Noni.
-
Ofrece alivio del dolor: algunos científicos creen que el Noni está asociado a la producción corporal de una sustancia bioquímica muy importante conocida como serotonina, la cual puede involucrar al sistema xeronina el cual se cree que ayuda a promover la capacidad corporal de prevenir el dolor. Según las investigaciones realizadas en Francia el poder analgésico del Noni es equivalente al 75% del poder de la morfina sin los efectos secundarios de la morfina y sin ser morfina.
-
Ayuda a promover la pérdida de peso: puede ayudar a que usted pierda peso al promover un sueño mejor, apoyando la regulación de los niveles de azúcar en sangre; y aumentando la cantidad de antioxidantes en el organismo.
-
Ayuda a controlar el ADHD: puede ser útil para aquellos que sufren del trastorno de hiperactividad déficit de atención por medio de su capacidad de regular la producción de algunas de las sustancias químicas del cerebro, así como aumentando la salud celular del cerebro en general.
-
Ayuda a tratar las migrañas: resultados preliminares demuestran que existe una relación entre Noni y serotonina. Estudios sugieren que el Noni ha sido clínicamente útil en el tratamiento de migrañas.
-
Es exitoso en el tratamiento de adicciones: se ha dicho que el Noni ha tenido éxito en ayudar con el tratamiento de adicciones a heroína, cocaína, marihuana, nicotina, alcohol, uso indebido de drogas de prescripción y cafeína.
-
Protege contra ACV: puede ayudar a inhibir la coagulación prematura de la sangre, impedir que las plaquetas se aglomeren formando coágulos asociados a accidentes cerebro vasculares.
-
Baja el colesterol es un potente barredor de radicales libres que puede contribuir a bajar los niveles de colesterol y a evitar que se oxide el colesterol LDL (colesterol malo).
-
Aumenta la memoria: es utilizado por el cerebro para ayudar en la codificación de la memoria de largo plazo y a mejorar el flujo sanguíneo al cerebro.
-
Fortalece el sistema nervioso: puede funcionar como “molécula mensajera” permitiendo que las células nerviosas del organismo y del cerebro se comuniquen eficazmente.
-
Estimula de desintoxicación: puede aumentar el ritmo de desintoxicación del hígado en más de 50 por ciento.
-
Mejora la condición de la piel: puede ser usado tópicamente. Debido a que tiene efectos antiinflamatorios e inhibidores de histamina, el Noni puede ayudar a combatir alergias, afecciones cutáneas e inflamación.
- Damnacanthal. Este alcaloide está considerado una de las sustancias vegetales naturales más potentes para combatir el cáncer. Se ha comprobado que aumenta la producción de fagocitos.
- Xeronina. Activa mas de 220 enzimas. Además ayuda a reducir las adicciones, tales como el tabaco o el alcoholismo.
- Escopolamina. Actúa como dilatador de las pupilas y ayuda en el "jet lag". Como parasimpatolítico inhibe la transmisión del impulso nervioso hacia las terminales nerviosas parasimpáticas.
- Morindina y Morindadiol. A estos dos alcaloides se les atribuyen efectosanticancerígenos; están siendo objeto de numerosos estudios.
Ácidos
El Noni contiene varios ácidos entre los que cabe destacar el ácido caprílico (poderoso antimicótico), el ácido caproico (fungicida e insecticida) o el ácido urónico desintoxicante ya que contiene ácido glucurónico que es sintetizado en el hígado para la desintoxicación.
- Alanina: Esencial para el metabolismo de los azúcares y de los ácidos orgánicos.
- Arginina: Esencial para los niños ejerce un importante papel en la desintoxicación de amoniaco en el cuerpo.
- Cistina: Excelente ayuda en casos de anemia perniciosa, enfermedades de la piel y afecciones hepáticas.
- Fenilalanina: Muy importante para todo el metabolismo. Está presente en casi todas las proteínas. Un déficit de este aminoácido o trastornos en sus funciones pueden conducir a enfermedades metabólicas u orgánicas graves.
- Glicina: Portadora de la estructura del colágeno contribuye a controlar el neurotransmisor inhibidor más importante de la motricidad. Indispensable para la curación de las heridas.
- Isoleucina: Indispensable en numerosos procesos bioquímicos.
- Leucina: Imprescindible para la síntesis de proteínas.
- Lisina: Muy importante en la formación de huesos en niños y jóvenes. Su carencia se detecta en posibles trastornos en el equilibrio acido-básico. Interviene en la producción de anticuerpos, hormonas y enzimas.
- Metionina: Actúa contra infecciones de las vías urinarias y contra la insuficiencia renal crónica. Es el suministrador fisiológico más importante de grupos metilo y de azufre. Los trastornos en la reabsorción de metionina pueden llevar a incapacidad mental, espasmos, diarreas fétidas y encanecimiento prematuro.
- Prolina: Es uno de los aminoácidos que forman las proteínas. Es también un componente importante del colágeno.
- Tirosina: Es precursor directo a la melanina, la dopamina, la adrenalina y la tiroxina.
- Triptófano: Esencial en la biosíntesis de la triptamina, la serotonina, la melatonina y el ácido nicotínico. Tiene efectos antidepresivos y se utiliza también para inducir el sueño.
- Valina: Aminoácido importantísimo en la degradación bioquímica de diferentes aminoácidos y de ácidos grasos impares. Desempeña un papel importante en la producción de proteínas.
DOSIS
-
The evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging activity of certain Indian medicinal plants in vitro: a preliminary study. J Med Food. 2004 Fall
Jagetia GC, Baliga MS. Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. The plant extracts of 17 commonly used Indian medicinal plants were examined for their possible regulatory effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels using sodium nitroprusside as an NO donor in vitro. Most of the plant extracts tested demonstrated direct scavenging of NO and exhibited significant activity. The potency of scavenging activity was in the following order: Alstonia scholaris > Cynodon dactylon > Morinda citrifolia > Tylophora indica > Tectona grandis > Aegle marmelos (leaf) > Momordica charantia > Phyllanthus niruri > Ocimum sanctum > Tinospora cordifolia (hexane extract) = Coleus ambonicus > Vitex negundo (alcoholic) > T. cordifolia (dichloromethane extract) > T. cordifolia (methanol extract) > Ipomoea digitata > V. negundo (aqueous) > Boerhaavia diffusa > Eugenia jambolana (seed) > T. cordifolia (aqueous extract) > V. negundo (dichloromethane/methanol extract) > Gingko biloba > Picrorrhiza kurroa > A. marmelos (fruit) > Santalum album > E. jambolana (leaf). All the extracts evaluated exhibited a dose-dependent NO scavenging activity. The A. scholaris bark showed its greatest NO scavenging effect of 81.86% at 250 microg/mL, as compared with G. biloba, where 54.9% scavenging was observed at a similar concentration. The present results suggest that these medicinal plants might be potent and novel therapeutic agents for scavenging of NO and the regulation of pathological conditions caused by excessive generation of NO and its oxidation product, peroxynitrite.
-
Chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia fruits inhibit copper-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation.
2: J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Sep 22;52(19):5843-8.
Kamiya K, Tanaka Y. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and High Technology Research Center, Kobe Gakuin University, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Japan. The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in the genesis of arteriosclerosis. The present study focused on the effects of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia on preventing arteriosclerosis. The MeOH extract and CHCl(3)-, EtOAc-, n-BuOH-, and H(2)O-soluble phases derived from the fruits of M. citrifolia were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on copper-induced LDL oxidation by the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method. The MeOH extract and EtOAc-soluble phase showed 88 and 96% inhibition, respectively. Six lignans were isolated by repeated column chromatography from the EtOAc-soluble phase. These compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis to be 3,3´-bisdemethylpinoresinol (1), americanol A (2), americanin A (3), americanoic acid A (4), morindolin (5), and isoprincepin (6), of which 4 and 5 are novel compounds. These compounds inhibited copper-induced LDL oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. 1, 2, 5, and 6 exhibited remarkably strong activities, which were the same or better than that of the known antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. The IC(50) values for 1, 2, 5, and 6 were 1.057, 2.447, 2.020, and 1.362 microM, respectively. The activity of these compounds is mainly due to their number of phenolic hydroxyl groups.
-
Are immune responses pivotal to cancer patient´s long term survival? Two clinical case-study reports on the effects of Morinda citrifolia (Noni).
Hawaii Med J. 2004 Jun;63(6):182-4.
Wong DK. In the State of Hawaii, there are abundant claims of benefit from cancer patients´ use of the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). There is no well documented clinical report in peer review journals. The author here studiously examined 2 such claims through interview, review of the medical records and pathology slides. The author concludes that these cases are valuable experiences and hope to stimulate interest in Noni research as an important part of adjuvant immunotherapy for cancer.
-
Inhibition of angiogenic initiation and disruption of newly established human vascular networks by juice from Morinda citrifolia (noni).
Angiogenesis. 2003;6(2):143-9.
Hornick CA, Myers A. Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Noni, the juice of the fruit from the Morinda citrifolia plant, has been used for centuries as a medicinal agent. We tested the effects of noni juice in a three-dimensional fibrin clot matrix model using human placental vein and human breast tumor explants as sources for angiogenic vessel development. Noni in concentrations of 5% (vol/vol) or greater was highly effective in inhibiting the initiation of new vessel sprouts from placental vein explants, compared with initiation in control explants in media supplemented with an equivalent amount of saline. These concentrations of noni were also effective in reducing the growth rate and proliferation of newly developing capillary sprouts. When used at a concentration of 10% in growth media, noni was able to induce vessel degeneration and apoptosis in wells with established capillary networks within a few days of its application. We also found that 10% noni juice in media was an effective inhibitor of capillary initiation in explants from human breast tumors. In tumor explants which did show capillary sprouting the vessels rapidly degenerated (2-3 days) in those exposed to media supplemented with 10% noni. -
Focussed beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) monitoring of particle size and morphology in suspension cultures of Morinda citrifolia and Centaurea calcitrapa.
Biotechnol Lett. 2003 Dec;25(23):2023-8.Jeffers P, Raposo S, Lima-Costa ME. Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College Dublin, Ireland. Laser light scattering technology, as applied in the Lasentec focussed beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) system, was used to characterise two morphologically dissimilar plant cell suspension cultures, Morinda citrifolia and Centaurea calcitrapa. Shake-flask suspensions were analysed in terms of biomass concentration and aggregate size/shape over the course of typical batch growth cycles. For the heavily aggregated C. calcitrapa, biomass levels [from 10- 160 g fresh weight (fw) l(-1))] were linearly correlated with FBRM counts. For M. citrifolia, which grows in unbranched chains of 2-10 elongated cells, linear correlation of biomass concentration with FBRM counts was applicable in the range 0- 100 g fw l(-1); at higher levels (100- 300 g fw l(-1)), biomass was non-linearly correlated with FBRM counts and length-weighted average FBRM chord length. For both cell systems, particle morphology (size/shape) was quantified using semi-automated digital image analysis. The average aggregate equivalent diameter (C. calcitrapa) and average chain length (M. citrifolia), determined using image analysis, closely tracked the FBRM average chord length. The data clearly demonstrate the potential for applying the FBRM technique for rapid characterisation of plant cell suspension cultures.
-
Antitumour potential of a polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) on sarcoma 180 ascites tumour in mice.
Phytother Res. 2003 Dec;17(10):1158-64.
Furusawa E, Hirazumi A, Story S. Department of Pharmacology, John Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. An immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich substance (Noni-ppt) from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia has been found to possess both prophylactic and therapeutic potentials against the immunomodulator sensitive Sarcoma 180 tumour system. The antitumour activity of Noni-ppt produced a cure rate of 25%-45% in allogeneic mice and its activity was completely abolished by the concomitant administration of specific inhibitors of macrophages (2-chloroadenosine), T cells (cyclosporine) or natural killer (NK) cells (anti-asialo GM1 antibody). Noni-ppt showed synergistic or additive beneficial effects when combined with a broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic drugs, including cisplatin, adriamycin, mitomycin-C, bleomycin, etoposide, 5- fl uorouracil, vincristine or camptothecin. It was not beneficial when combined with paclitaxel, cytosine arabinoside, or immunosuppressive anticancer drugs such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate or 6-thioguanine. Noni-ppt also demonstrated beneficial effects when combined with the Th1 cytokine, interferon gamma, but its activity was abolished when combined with Th2 cytokines, interleukin-4 or interleukin-10, thereby suggesting that Noni-ppt induces a Th1 dominant immune status in vivo. The combination of Noni-ppt with imexon, a synthetic immunomodulator, also demonstrated beneficial effects, but not when combined with the MVE-2 copolymer, a high molecular weight immunomodulator. It was also not effective when combined with interleukin-2 or interleukin-12.
-
From Polynesian healers to health food stores: changing perspectives of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae).
Integr Cancer Ther. 2002 Jun;1(2):110-20; discussion 120.
McClatchey W. Department of Botany and Cancer Research Center of Hawai´i, Natural Products Program, University of Hawai´i, Honolulu, Hawai´i, USA. Morinda citrifolia L (noni) is one of the most important traditional Polynesian medicinal plants. Remedies from isolated Polynesian cultures, such as that of Rotuma, illustrate traditional indications that focus upon leaves, roots, bark, and green fruit, primarily for topical ailments. Anecdotally collected Hawaiian remedies that employ noni fruit illustrate changing usage patterns with shifts in recent times to preparation of juice made of ripe or decaying fruit. Ralph M. Heinicke promoted a wide range of claims about noni, and these seem to have fueled much of the current commercial interest in the plant. Recent studies of the proliferation of commercial products have shown that noni product manufacturers are promoting a range of therapeutic claims. These claims are based upon traditional Polynesian uses, Heinicke´s ideas, and fragments of recent scientific studies including the activity of noni in the treatment of cancer. A review is provided of recent studies of potential anticancer activity of noni fruit. While noni´s anticancer potential is still being explored, it continues to be widely used by Polynesians and non-Polynesians alike for both traditional and newly hypothesized indications. -
Isolation and structure determination of a benzofuran and a bis-nor-isoprenoid from Aspergillus niger grown on the water soluble fraction of Morinda citrifolia Linn. leaves.
Nat Prod Res. 2003 Oct;17(5):355-60.
Siddiqui BS, Ismail FA, Gulzar T. H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi , Karachi-75270, Pakistan . The leaves of Morinda citrifolia, Linn. afforded a new benzofuran and a bis-nor-isoprenoid, blumenol C, hitherto unreported from this source. The structures of these have been elucidated as 5-benzofuran carboxylic acid-6-formyl methyl ester (1) and 4-(3´(R)-hydroxybutyl)-3,5,5, trimethyl-cyclohex-2-en-1-one (2) respectively through spectroscopic studies. The NMR data (including 1D, 2D techniques) and stereochemistry at C-3´ of Compound 2 is also being reported for the first time.
-
Pharmacological and toxicological activity of Heterophyllaea pustulata anthraquinone extracts.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):569-74.
Nunez Montoya SC, Agnese AM, Perez C. Farmacognosia, Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, UNC, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Cordoba, Argentina. Benzenic extracts from both stems and leaves of Heterophyllaea pustulata showed the most significant activity in vivo in the Brine Shrimp Lethally Test (BST), relative to others of different polarity. They were therefore selected for in vitro antimicrobial activity studies. Bacteriostatic activity against Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 was detected, selectively inhibiting both oxacillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus, among several gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species tested. Antifungal activity against important opportunist microorganisms and against those involved in superficial mycosis, all from nosocomial origin was also detected. A chemical screening revealed the presence of anthraquinones as major compounds. Among them, we identified damnacanthal, rubiadin, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone, soranjidiol, rubiadin-1-methyl ether, and damnacanthol in the benzenic stem extract. The benzenic leaf extract shows a similar chemical composition, except for damnacanthal, damnacanthol, soranjidiol-1-methyl ether, and 3 anthraquinones whose structures have not yet been elucidated. Acute toxicity studies revealed a low toxicity in mice for the anthraquinonic extracts, as measured in the LD50 value (123 mg/kg body wt. i.v.), and death was not observed at doses of up to 4000 mg/kg body wt. s.c. - Contribution of Src tyrosine kinase to cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurosurg. 2003 Aug;99(2):383-90 Kusaka G, Kimura H, Kusaka I. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
- OBJECT: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) has been implicated in cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study was conducted to investigate whether Src tyrosine kinase, an upstream regulator of MAPK, is involved in cerebral vasospasm. METHODS: An established canine double-hemorrhage model was used. Twenty-four dogs were divided into four groups: control, vehicle-treated, Src inhibitor PP2-treated, and Src inhibitor damnacanthal-treated groups. Vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide), PP2, or damnacanthal was injected daily into the cisterna magna of 18 dogs at 3 to 6 days after induction of SAH. Angiography was performed on Day 0 (the day on which the first blood injection was administered to induce SAH) and on Day 7. Western blot analysis of Src and MAPK activation in basilar arteries (BAs) collected on Day 7 post-SAH was performed. Severe vasospasm was observed in the BAs of vehicle-treated dogs. Mild vasospasm was observed in all dogs treated with Src inhibitors. Phosphorylated Src and MAPK were increased after SAH and activation of these kinases in the BAs was abolished by PP2 and damnacanthal. CONCLUSIONS: The tyrosine kinase Src is an important upstream regulator of MAPK, and inhibition of Src might offer a new therapy in the management of cerebral vasospasm.
-
Regulation of anthraquinone biosynthesis in cell cultures of Morinda citrifolia.
J Plant Physiol. 2003 Jun;160(6):607-14.
Stalman M, Koskamp AM, Luderer R. Department of Experimental Botany, University of Nijmegen , Toernooiveld, ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands . Cell cultures of Morinda citrifolia L. are capable of accumulating substantial amounts of anthraquinones. Chorismate formed by the shikimate pathway is an important precursor of these secondary metabolites. Isochorismate synthase (EC 5.4.99.6), the enzyme that channels chorismate into the direction of the anthraquinones, is involved in the regulation of anthraquinone biosynthesis. Other enzymes of the shikimate pathway such as deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (EC 4.1.2.15) and chorismate mutase (EC 5.4.99.5) do not play a regulatory role in the process. The accumulation of anthraquinones is correlated with isochorismate synthase activity under a variety of conditions, which indicates that under most circumstances the concentration of the branchpoint metabolite chorismate is not a rate-limiting factor. Anthraquinone biosynthesis in Morinda is strongly inhibited by 2,4-D, but much less by NAA. Both auxins inhibit the activity of isochorismate synthase proportionally to the concomitant reduction in the amount of anthraquinone accumulated. However, the correlation between enzyme activity and rate of biosynthesis is less clear when the activity of the enzyme is very high. In this case, a limiting concentration of precursor may determine the extent of anthraquinone accumulation. Partial inhibition of chorismate biosynthesis by glyphosate leads to less anthraquinone accumulation, but also to a reduction in ICS activity. The complexity of the interference of glyphosate with anthraquinone biosynthesis is illustrated by the effect of the inhibitor in cell cultures of the related species Rubia tinctorum L. in these cells, glyphosate leads to an increase in anthraquinone content and a concomitant rise in ICS activity. All data indicate that the main point of regulation in anthraquinone biosynthesis is located at the entrance of the specific secondary route.
-
New unusual iridoids from the leaves of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) show inhibitory effect on ultraviolet B-induced transcriptional activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity.
Bioorg Med Chem. 2003 Jun 12;11(12):2499-502.
Sang S, Liu G, He K. Department of Food Science and Center for Advanced Food Technology, Rutgers University , New Brunswick , NJ, USA. A novel iridoid dimer in whose structure the two iridoid units are connected by a rare ether group, together with two new unusual iridoids showing significant inhibition of UVB-induced Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) activity in cell cultures, have been isolated from the leaves of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed high-field 1D and 2D spectral analysis. Their inhibitory effect on UVB-induced transcriptional Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) activity are also discussed.
-
A cross-cultural study: anti-inflammatory activity of Australian and Chinese plants.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Mar;85(1):25-32.
Li RW, Myers SP, Leach DN. Australian Center for Complementary Medicine Education and Research, A Joint Venture of the University of Queensland and Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia. In this study, in vitro inhibitory effects of 33 ethanol extracts obtained from 24 plant species (representing 11 different families) on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) were evaluated. The plant materials selected for this study have been used in aboriginal medicine in Australia and traditional medicine in China for the treatment of various diseases that are considered as inflammation in nature, e.g. asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, fever, edema, infections, snakebite and related inflammatory diseases. All of the selected plants, with one exception, showed inhibitory activity against COX-1, which supports their traditional uses. The most potent COX-1 inhibition were observed from the extracts of Acacia ancistrocarpa leaves (IC(50)=23 microg/ml). Ficus racemosa bark, Clematis pickeringii stem, Acacia adsurgens leaves, Tinospora smilacina stem and Morinda citrifolia fruit powder exhibited inhibition of COX-1 with the IC(50) of 100, 141, 144, 158 and 163 microg/ml, respectively. Aspirin and indomethacin used as the reference COX-1 inhibitors in this study inhibited COX-1 with IC(50) of 241 and 1.2 microg/ml, respectively. The findings of this study may explain at least in part why these plants have been traditionally used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions in Australian aboriginal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
-
Antitubercular constituents from the hexane fraction of Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae).
Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):683-5.
Saludes JP, Garson MJ, Franzblau SG. Research Center for the Natural Sciences, University of Santo Tomas , Espana, Manila , Philippines . A crude ethanol extract and hexane fraction from Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae) show antitubercular activity. The major constituents of the hexane fraction are E-phytol, cycloartenol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, campesta-5,7,22-trien-3beta-ol and the ketosteroids stigmasta-4-en-3-one and stigmasta-4-22-dien-3-one. E-Phytol, a mixture of the two ketosteroids, and the epidioxysterol derived from campesta-5,7,22-trien-3beta-ol all show pronounced antitubercular activity.
-
Morinda citrifolia (Noni): a literature review and recent advances in Noni research.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002 Dec;23(12):1127-41.
Wang MY, West BJ , Jensen CJ. University of Illinois College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL, USA. Morinda citrifolia L (Noni) has been used in folk remedies by Polynesians for over 2000 years, and is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmin, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects. In order to reveal the nutritional and medicinal value of the Noni plant, and to summarize scientific evidence that supports the Polynesians´ claim, a literature review and recent advances in Noni research is given below.
-
Cytoplasmic Acidification and Secondary Metabolite Production in Different Plant Cell Suspensions (A Comparative Study).
Plant Physiol. 1994 Oct;106(2):723-730.
Hagendoorn M, Wagner AM, Segers G. Department of Plant Physiology, Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan, BD Wageningen, The Netherlands. In this study, a correlation is described between low cytoplasmic pH, measured with the fluorescent probes 2[prime],7[prime]-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (acetoxymethyl ester) and bis- [3-propyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl]pentamethine oxonol, and the production of secondary metabolites for several plant cell-suspension systems. Anthraquinone production in Morinda citrifolia suspensions is negligible in the presence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), whereas with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) a significant accumulation is realized. NAA-grown cells showed a lower cytoplasmic pH than did 2,4-D-grown cells. Addition of 2,4-D or parachlorophenoxy acetic acid to NAA-grown cells resulted in an inhibition of anthraquinone production and an increase of the cytoplasmic pH, whereas addition of parachlorophenyl acetic acid had no effect on either parameter. Lignin production in Petunia hybrida cells could be induced by subculturing them in a medium without iron. These cells showed a lower cytoplasmic pH than control cells. Addition of Fe3+ led to a decreased lignin content and an increased cytoplasmic pH. Two cell lines of Linum flavum showed a different level of coniferin and lignin concentration in their cells. Cells that accumulated coniferin and lignin had a lower cytoplasmic pH than cells that did not accumulate these secondary metabolites. Apparently, in different species and after different kinds of treatment there is a correlation between acidification of the cytoplasm and the production of different secondary metabolites. The possible role of this acidification in secondary metabolite production is discussed.
-
Mechanism of damnacanthal-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in human dermal fibroblasts.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Jan 10;387(2):119-24.
Aoki K, Parent A, Zhang J. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson , MS , USA. Damnacanthal is a potent and selective inhibitor of p56(lck) tyrosine kinase in a variety of tissues. We have found, however, using the Ca(2+) microfluorimetry technique, that damnacanthal releases intracellular Ca(2+) stores and promotes Ca(2+) entry in human dermal fibroblasts. The effect of damnacanthal on the peak [Ca(2+)](i) values and the latent time to the peak was concentration-dependent. Damnacanthal releases Ca(2+) from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+) stores, and the Ca(2+) stores responding to damnacanthal were overlapped with those of bradykinin. Damnacanthal-induced Ca(2+) entry was mediated by voltage-dependent and voltage-independent Ca(2+) channels. This effect of damnacanthal on intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization was also observed in cultured bovine coronary endothelial cells but not demonstrated in freshly isolated rat basilar smooth muscle cells. Our study suggests that damnacanthal increases intracellular Ca(2+) by releasing Ca(2+) from internal stores and promoting Ca(2+) entry. The relationship between the actions of damnacanthal on tyrosine kinase and intracellular Ca(2+) requires further investigation.
-
The structure-based design of ATP-site directed protein kinase inhibitors.
Curr Med Chem. 1999 Sep;6(9):775-805.
Toledo LM, Lydon NB, Elbaum D.
Kinetix Pharmaceuticals Inc., 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 3500, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
The protein kinase family represents both a huge opportunity and a challenge for drug development. The conservation of structural features within the ATP binding cleft initially led to the belief that specificity would be difficult to achieve. This dogma has now been clearly dispelled with the discovery and clinical testing of a group of first generation compounds, which are characterized by a high degree of selectivity towards a variety of oncology targets. The structural basis for selectivity and potency has now been clarified with the crystallization of a number of such targets in complex with inhibitors. The protein kinase inhibitor field is now ripe for the structure based exploitation of additional highly validated targets from a variety of therapeutic areas.
-
Damnacanthal is a highly potent, selective inhibitor of p56lck tyrosine kinase activity.
Biochemistry. 1995 Sep 26;34(38):12404-10.
Faltynek CR, Schroeder J. Department of Immunology, Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals Research Division, Collegeville , Pennsylvania , USA. Damnacanthal, an anthraquinone isolated from a plant extract, was found to be a potent, selective inhibitor of p56lck tyrosine kinase activity. The structure, potency, and selectivity of damnacanthal were confirmed by independent synthesis and testing. Damnacanthal exhibited an IC50 of 17 nM for inhibition of p56lck autophosphorylation and an IC50 of 620 nM for phosphorylation of an exogenous peptide by p56lck. Damnacanthal had > 100-fold selectivity for p56lck over the serine/threonine kinases, protein kinase A and protein kinase C, and > 40-fold selectivity for p56lck over four receptor tyrosine kinases. It also demonstrated modest (7-20-fold), but highly statistically significant, selectivity for p56lck over the homologous enzymes p60src and p59fyn. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that damnacanthal was competitive with the peptide binding site, but mixed noncompetitive with the ATP site. Although damnacanthal contains a potentially reactive aldehyde moiety, equilibrium dialysis experiments demonstrated that significant amine formation between damnacanthal and amines occurred only at high concentrations of reactants. However, damnacanthal appeared to bind nonspecifically to membrane lipids and was not active in whole cell tyrosine kinase assays. Damnacanthal is the most potent, selective inhibitor of p56lck tyrosine kinase activity described to date and may represent the starting point for the identification of novel, selective inhibitors of p56lck which are active in whole cell as well as in cell-free systems.
Un estudio realizado con jugos de noni tahitiano, comercializados como suplementos dietéticos, administrados al 10 % en el agua de beber durante 1 semana, previno la formación de un adducto de 7-12 dimetilbenzo[a]antraceno (DMBA)-DNA. Las concentraciones de DMBA-DNA fueron reducidas en el corazón (30 %), los pulmones (41 %), el hígado (42 %) y los riñones (80 %) en ratas Sprague-Dowley hembras. Sin embargo, el efecto fue mucho mayor en ratones C57BL-6 machos, los cuales redujeron el DMBA-DNA en el corazón (60 %), el hígado (70 %) y los riñones (90 %). El jugo tuvo efecto antioxidante in vitro que fue comparable con el producido por vitamina C, polvo de semilla de uva y picnogenol en dosis equivalentes a las diarias recomendadas en los Estados Unidos. Estos resultados hicieron que los autores sugirieran que pudiera contribuir a prevenir el cáncer.
Una fracción enriquecida de polisacárido del jugo tuvo efectos profilácticos y terapéuticos potenciales contra el modelo de Sarcoma 180 sensible a inmunomoduladores. La actividad antitumoral de ese extracto produjo una curación del 25 al 45 % en ratones alogénicos y el efecto fue abolido completamente por la administración simultánea de inhibidores específicos de macrófagos (2-cloro adenosina), de células T (ciclosporina) o de células asesinas naturales (anticuerpo GM1 antiasialo). La fracción produjo efectos sinérgicos beneficiosos cuando se combinó con fármacos antineoplásicos como cisplatino, adriamicina, mitomicina C, bleomicina, etopósido, 5-fluoruracilo, vincristina o camtotecina. No fue favorable cuando se asoció con paclitaxel, arabinósido de citosina o fármacos anticancerosos inmunosupresores como ciclofosfamida, metrotexato o 6-tioguanina. También fue favorable la administración conjunta con citocina Th1 e interferón gamma, pero la actividad fue abolida cuando se combinó con citocina Th2, interleucina-4 o interleucina-10; lo que sugiere que la fracción induce, in vivo, un estado inmune dominante Th1. La asociación de la fracción con imexón, un inmunomodulador sintético, también fue beneficiosa; pero resultó desfavorable la combinación con el copolímero MVE-2, un inmunomodulador de alto peso molecular, interleucina-2 o interleucina-126.
Comentarios(280)
Escriba su comentario
Comparta sus experiencias o dudas con nuestra comunidad de lectores, considerando que:
No se acepta comentarios publicitarios u ofensivos.
No responderemos preguntas en esta sección - dirija sus consultas a otros lectores -. Para contactarnos, favor de dirigirse a nuestra página de contacto