A traditional food that has been used for centuries to promote health and well-being has recently been studied by scientists for its usefulness in preventing or managing a common type of cancer. Studies show that this natural plant may be more effective than chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a drug that's commonly used in cancer patients.
Lung cancer takes 1.2 million lives each year, and about 80% of these lung cancer cases are classified as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which conventional chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is rarely able to kill, due to chemoresistance and radioresistance. Researchers pointed out, "Chemotherapy and/or irradiation usually fail because NSCLC cells are intrinsically resistant to them. Chemotherapy is quite ineffective for advanced NSCLC patients with only 20-35% response rate and a 10-12 month median survival."
Erlotinib was approved by the FDA based on its ability to improve survival for a few months when added to conventional chemotherapy, but it has never been proven to be safe for use. This new study evaluated the effects of Noni leaves on metastasized lung cancer development in both a cell model and an animal model, and compared the results with Erlotinib, using two different types of lung cancer cells.
When tested against Erlotinib in a non-small-cell lung cancer model, the Noni leaf extract significantly increased healthy gene response and decreased unhealthy gene response, increased anti-inflammatory expression in the lungs and enhanced antioxidant responses against oxidative injuries. The extract also suppressed inflammation and increased antioxidant response, and the response of apoptotic genes that suppress cancer.
The researchers concluded that "the 300 mg/kg extract was more effective than the 50 mg/kg Erlotinib for most of the parameters measured."
The Study
A study published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry revealed that Morinda citrifolia (Noni) leaves, may be ideal for preventing or managing lung cancer. The study found that extract from a Noni leaf was more effective than the chemotherapy drug known as Erlotinib, when it came to suppressing metastasized lung cancer in an animal model.
Lung cancer takes 1.2 million lives each year, and about 80% of these lung cancer cases are classified as non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which conventional chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is rarely able to kill, due to chemoresistance and radioresistance. Researchers pointed out, "Chemotherapy and/or irradiation usually fail because NSCLC cells are intrinsically resistant to them. Chemotherapy is quite ineffective for advanced NSCLC patients with only 20-35% response rate and a 10-12 month median survival."
Erlotinib was approved by the FDA based on its ability to improve survival for a few months when added to conventional chemotherapy, but it has never been proven to be safe for use. This new study evaluated the effects of Noni leaves on metastasized lung cancer development in both a cell model and an animal model, and compared the results with Erlotinib, using two different types of lung cancer cells.
The Results
In the cell model, the Noni leaf extract "inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis" (programmed cell death). The extract caused changes consistent with those of an excellent chemotherapy agent. The Noni leaf extract also exhibited no toxicity in normal lung cells — something that chemotherapy and radiation cannot match, as they can damage healthy cells in the process.
When tested against Erlotinib in a non-small-cell lung cancer model, the Noni leaf extract significantly increased healthy gene response and decreased unhealthy gene response, increased anti-inflammatory expression in the lungs and enhanced antioxidant responses against oxidative injuries. The extract also suppressed inflammation and increased antioxidant response, and the response of apoptotic genes that suppress cancer.
The researchers concluded that "the 300 mg/kg extract was more effective than the 50 mg/kg Erlotinib for most of the parameters measured."
