An anthraquinone derived from the cheese fruit is being studied as a potential cancer remedy

Researchers have discovered that nordamnacanthal, an anthraquinone found in cheese fruit (Morinda citrifolia), possesses anti-cancer properties. In the study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in vivo and in vitro experiments were used to determine the cytotoxic effects of nordamnacanthal.

• Existing studies have shown that nordamnacanthal possesses several biological activities. However, these have only been observed in vitro.
• To determine the in vitro cytotoxicity of nordamnacanthal, MTT, cell cycle, and Annexin V/PI assays were conducted. These were performed using MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells.
• An oral subchronic toxicity study was performed on mice that were fed nordamnacanthal daily for 28 days.
• In vivo studies were done on 4T1 murine breast cancer cells-challenged mice. Immune parameters and changes in tumor size were used as basis for estimating the anti-tumor effect.
• In vivo studies that were conducted include immunophenotyping, ELISA, and cytotoxicity assays.
• Results showed that nordamnacanthal exhibits in vivo and in vitro cytotoxic activities. It is able to inhibit growth and induce cell death in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 in vivo and it prevents tumor progression of 4T1 cells in vitro.

Find the full text of the study at this link.

You can read more studies about different cancer remedies by visiting Cancer.news.

Journal reference

Abu N, Zamberi NR, Yeap SK, Nordin N, Mohamad NE, Romli MF, Rasol NE, Subramani T, Ismail NH, Alitheen NB. SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY, IMMUNOREGULATION AND ANTI-BREAST TUMOR EFFECT OF NORDAMNACANTAL, AN ANTHRAQUINONE EXTRACTED FROM THE STEMS OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 27 January 2018; 18(31). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2102-3