Chemopreventive Effects of Morindia Citrifolia Juice (noni) on Experimental Breast Cancer in Rats: Preliminary Study

Abstract

This study determines the effect of <em>Morindia citrifolia</em> juice (Tahitian Noni®) in the development of breast cancer induced by carcinogen agent 7.12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) in rats. For this purpose, the breast cancer induction model 1.7-DMBA was used on <em>Spraguey Dawley</em> iparous rats of 35 days of age, randomly divided into three groups: group 1 control, which received no treatment, and groups 2 and 3, induced with DMBA at a dose of 55 mg/kg. The latter received a dose of noni juice of 4 ml/kg per day for 90 days. The results showed that a significant percentage (83.33%) of the rats from the group induced with DMBA not treated with noni juice developed palpable breast tumors ( ≤ 2 cm) of the ductal carcinoma <em>in situ</em> type and atypical ductal hyperplasia, compared to the other groups that did not develop any kind of tumors. In addition, it was found that rats that developed breast cancer had a lower weight gain and significantly increased water consumption (p < 0.05) compared to the other two groups. The results of the hematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant changes between groups. Histopathological changes compatible with liver toxicity were found in rats treated with noni juice. In conclusion, it was found in this preliminary study that noni juice has positive effects in modulating the development of breast cancer induced by DMBA.