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Introduction

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is a small evergreen tree native to South Asia, with elongated leaves, white tubular flower clusters and greenish fruits that ripen to whitish-yellow. Its products have been used for centuries to treat an array of maladies. A variety of major natural products have been identified in the noni plant thus far (1,2). Two novel glycosides and a new unusual iridoid, known as citrifolinoside, isolated from noni were shown to have an inhibiting effect on activator protein-1 (AP-1) transactivation and cell transformation in the mouse epidermal JB6 cell line (3–7). Although its traditional uses primarily involved topical application of leaves and roots, the noni fruit has been more popular for modern usage (8). The documented effects of noni juice include anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, anticancer, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Noni has been reported to modulate immune cells and has been found to enhance the adaptive immune response by activating T and B cells (9).

Noni has received much attention for its antiangiogenic and anticancer properties in animal models and clinical settings. The first attempt to identify the component of noni responsible for its antitumor activities described a water-soluble, ethanol-precipitating, polysaccharide-rich substance from noni fruit, as an immunomodulator (10). Shortly thereafter, Wang and Su demonstrated that noni inhibits 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-DNA adduct formation (11), suggesting a protective role in chemically induced cancers. In their study, Furusawa et al expanded their investigation to demonstrate that the antitumor properties of noni precipitate (ppt) were dependent on macrophages, NK and T cells and extended its synergistic effects with even more chemotherapies (12). Additionally, noni was found to inhibit new vessel sprouts at concentrations of 5% and induce vessel degeneration at a concentration of 10% (13). In 2004, Wong developed a novel technique of making fermented noni exudates (fNE) and reported that two cancer patients had benefited by drinking fNE (14).

The intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of C57BL/6J mice with fNE has recently been reported (15) to significantly increase the percentages of granulocytes and NK cells in the peripheral blood, peritoneum and spleen. The fNE injection induced complete tumor rejection in normal C57BL/6J mice in both preventive and therapeutic treatment settings. Furthermore, that study also showed that fNE injection induced partial tumor rejection in C57 nude mice lacking functional lymphocytes, although no tumor rejection was detected in NK cell-deficient beige mice. Over 85% of the C57BL/6J mice that received fNE survived the first tumor injection and rejected up to 5×106 tumor cells when re-challenged. These data demonstrate that fNE is likely to stimulate the innate and adaptive immune systems to reject tumor cells. NK cells exhibit a rapid response and are fundamentally involved in the innate immune system, while a response in the adaptive immune system occurs later with a retained memory (15). This conclusion has been supported in a recent study by Nayak and Mengi (16).

Therefore, to identify the active antitumor components from fNE, the juice was partitioned into three fractions and their antitumor activities were examined in a S180 sarcoma tumor model using either i.p. injection or as a water supplement. The in vivo animal study results showed that n-butanol fraction of fNE (BuOH) is the most effective component in the two experimental settings.

Materials and methods

Cells and mice

C57BL/6J mice (female) at 6–8 weeks of age were purchased from Jackson Laboratories (Bar Harbor, ME, USA) and housed in our pathogen-free animal facilities. The animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23) and the institutional guidelines. Mouse sarcoma S180 tumor cells were purchased from ATCC (Manassas, VA, USA) (TIB-66) and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and gentamicin (50 μg/ml).

Preparation of fNE and its fractions

Fermented noni exudates (fNE) were prepared as described previously (15). Briefly, physio logically mature, firm-yellow (ripe) noni fruits were harvested from a commercial orchard on the island of Hawaii and transported to the USDA-ARS Laboratory (Hilo, HI, USA) in a cooler. Fruit were of excellent quality (disease-and injury-free). Fruit were destemmed, sorted, washed, sanitized and kept at 22°C until translucent. The jars, sieves and utensils used for juice preparation were autoclaved for sterility. Fruit (1.5–1.7 kg/jar) were placed into sterilized glass jars (3.8 liters) with sealed lids to provide low oxygen conditions and allowed to ferment for 14 days at 22°C. For each batch, 20–25 jars of noni were prepared. Gas concentrations (CO2 and O2) inside jars were measured using a headspace analyzer (model 6600, Illinois Instruments, Johnsburg, IL, USA). Jars were fitted with septa for gas sampling. By day 14, the CO2 levels increased to 25%, whereas O2 levels decreased to 10%. The noni exudates were decanted through a sterile mesh screen, collected in sterile flasks, pasteurized at 85°C in a water bath for 3 min, cooled and frozen at −20°C. The noni juice had a pH of 3.5 and a total soluble solids content of 5.7%.

Fresh or thawed fNE were partitioned with ethyl acetate to obtain the ethyl acetate-soluble residue. Then, the remaining aqueous layer was partitioned three times with n-butanol. Thus, two organic fractions designated as EtAc and BuOH and an aqueous fraction (H2OL) were obtained. The three fractions were freeze-dried in a lyophilizer and sent via overnight air shipment to the Clemson University for evaluation in their antitumor assays. Unfractionated fNE was also shipped. Prior to injection, the noni fractions were thawed and dissolved with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to one fourth of the original fNE volume and adjusted to pH 7.0–7.4. The H2O fraction was later found to be toxic. Therefore, fNE, BuOH and EtAc fractions were used in the animal study.

Animal studies

Three animal studies were conducted with the noni materials. In a tumor prevention study, four cages of female C57BL/6J mice (n=8/cage; age, 10 weeks) were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml/mouse of fNE, BuOH and EtAc fractions or PBS on days 14 and 7. On day 0, 5×105 S180 tumor cells were injected i.p. into each mouse and their survival was monitored. In a tumor treatment study, C57BL/6J mice were injected i.p. with live S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse) on day 0. On days 3, 4 and 5, the mice were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml of fNE, BuOH and EtAc fractions or PBS (n=8 mice/group). The survival of the mice was monitored. In a tumor prevention study with noni materials as water supplements, female C57BL/6J mice (age, 8 weeks) were fed with water containing fNE, BuOH or EtAc fractions at a concentration of 5% for 4 weeks (n=4 mice/group). The mice were then injected i.p. with S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse) and monitored for survival.

Results

fNE fractions

Thawed fNE (400 ml) were partitioned with EtAc three times (3×200 ml) to obtain the EtAc-soluble residue. Solvent was thoroughly evaporated under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator. One gram (dry weight) of residue was obtained from this process and labeled as EtAc fraction. The remaining aqueous layer was partitioned with n-butanol three times (3×200 ml). Nineteen grams (dry weight) of residue were obtained and labeled as BuOH fraction. Twenty grams (dry weight) of residue were obtained from the aqueous layer and labeled as H2OHL. The dry noni materials were dissolved in 100 ml PBS (¼ of the original fNE volume) and adjusted to pH 7.2–7.4. A pilot study showed that H2OHL was toxic (data not shown), therefore, fNE, BuOh and EtAc were used in the subsequent in vivo animal studies.

Intraperitoneal injection of noni materials rejected S180 tumor challenge

Four cages of female C57BL/6J mice (n=8/cage; age, 10 weeks) were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml/mouse of fNE, BuOH and EtAc fractions or PBS on days 14 and 7. On day 0, 5×105 S180 tumor cells were injected i.p. into each mouse and their survival was monitored. While the injection of PBS or EtAc did not provide any protection from S180 tumor challenge, the mice injected with BuOH fraction completely rejected S180 tumor challenge. Six of eight mice injected with fNE rejected S180 tumor cells (Fig. 1). These mice remained tumor-free for their entire lifespan. Two months later, four tumor cell-resistant mice from the fNE and BuOH groups were rechallenged with 5×106 live S180 tumor cells/mouse i.p. The mice completely rejected this second tumor cell challenge, indicating that an effective immune response had been activated.

Figure 1 C57BL/6J mice (n=8) were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml/mouse of fNE, BuOH or PBS, respectively, on days 14 and 7. On day 0, 5×105 S180 tumor cells were i.p. injected into each mouse and the survival of the mice was monitored. Mice injected with BuOH fraction completely rejected S180 tumor challenge. Six of eight mice injected with fNE rejected S180 tumor cells.

Intraperitoneal injection of noni materials eradicated existing S180 tumor cells

In a therapeutic treatment experimental setting, C57BL/6J mice were injected i.p. with live S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse). On days 3, 4 and 5, the mice were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml of fNE, BuOH fractions, EtAc fractions or PBS (8 mice/group). The survival of the mice was monitored. The i.p. injection of fNE and BuOH fraction completely eradicated the existing S180 tumor cells, while six of the eight mice injected with the EtAc fraction were tumor-free (Fig. 2).

Figure 2 C57BL/6J mice (n=8) were i.p. injected with live S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse) on day 0. On days 3, 4 and 5, the mice were i.p. injected with 0.2 ml of fNE, BuOH, EtAc or PBS, respectively. The survival of the mice was monitored.The i.p. injection of fNE and BuOH fraction completely eradicated the existing S180 tumor cells, while six of the eight mice injected with the EtAc fraction were tumor-free

Mice fed with noni materials as a water supplement rejected S180 tumor challenge

Female C57BL/6J mice (age, 8 weeks) were fed with water containing fNE, BuOH or EtAc fractions at a concentration of 5% for 4 weeks (n=8 mice/group). The mice were then injected i.p. with S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse) and monitored for survival. Six of eight mice fed with fNE rejected S180 tumor challenge, five of eight mice fed with BuOH or four of eight mice fed with EtAc rejected S180 tumor challenge. The mice that survived the first tumor challenge were tumor-free for their entire lifespan (Fig. 3).

Figure 3 Female C57BL/6J mice (n=8) were fed with water containing fNE, BuOH or EtAc, respectively, at a concentration of 5% for 4 weeks (8 mice/group). The mice were then i.p. injected with S180 tumor cells (5×105 cells/mouse) and monitored for survival. Six of eight mice fed with fNE rejected S180 tumor challenge, five of eight mice fed with BuOH or four of eight mice fed with EtAc rejected S180 tumor challenge. The mice that survived the first tumor challenge were tumor-free for their entire lifespan.

Discussion

Although noni products have been used as folk medicines for thousands of years, it is only recently that the mechanisms and the active components of noni have been understood, with attention being focused on noni juice (10,12). The method to produce noni juice was modified by the addition of fermentation and the product was termed fermented noni exudates (fNE) (14,15). Novel species were identified from fNE (17). fNE was demonstrated to be used to prevent tumor development as well as treat existing tumors in a mouse sarcoma tumor model. This antitumor activity is mediated by the activation of the immune system, especially by NK cells (15). The fNE was also shown to have the potential to activate dendritic cells that are important in the initiation of the adaptive immunity (18).

As the first step in identifying the active antitumor components or compounds from fNE in this study, the noni juice was partitioned into three fractions: water (H2OL), alcohol (BuOH) and acid (fractions EtAc). The antitumor activities of these fractions were then examined in an in vivo S180 sarcoma tumor model using either i.p. injection or as a water supplement. H2OL was found to be extremely toxic due to the contamination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (data not shown) and not included in the in vivo assay.

In a preventive setting, fNE, BuOH or EtAc were i.p. injected into experimental mice in order to determine whether or not the noni fractions stimulated the immune system to reject tumor cells. As shown in Fig. 1, BuOH stimulated a stronger immune response compared to fNE, since the eight mice that received BuOH injection rejected S180 tumor cells, while six of the mice that received fNE rejected the tumor cells. Of note, no immune response was stimulated subsequent to EtAc injection. Consequently, the active antitumor compounds are very likely present in the alcohol fraction of fNE. More importantly, the mice that received fNE or BuOH and rejected the first tumor challenge rejected a second and higher dose of tumor challenge, indicating that long-term immunomemory was established (data not shown).

To determine whether or not the antitumor immune response activated by fNE and its fractions has the potential to eradicate existing tumor cells, mice were injected with tumor cells and then treated with fNE, BuOH or EtAc. As shown in Fig. 2, the mice treated with fNE or BuOH eradicated tumor cells and remained tumor-free for their entire lifespan. Notably, six of the eight mice treated with EtAc also exhibited eradicated tumor cells. At this point of the experiment, two phenomena were of interest. First, the therapeutic treatment showed a better antitumor activity compared to the preventive treatment. Secondly, EtAc treatment did not reject tumor challenge, but was able to eradicate existing tumors. A possible explanation for these noteworthy observations is the activation of the two arms of the immune system: innate and adaptive immunity. Although the immunities might be activated in the preventive setting, only adaptive immunity has the potential to generate immunomemory, which rejects a future tumor challenge. In the therapeutic treatment setting, the immunities are activated and mount a rapid and effective immune response against the tumor cells. In addition, EtAc may not be effective in stimulating the adaptive immune responses, but is able to activate the innate immune response, especially the NK cells. These interesting findings require further investigation.

Since the i.p. injection of fNE and its fractions stimulate the adaptive immunity and reject a later tumor challenge, it was then hypothesized that if the noni materials can be delivered in a natural manner, such as oral delivery, an immunomemory may be established. The fNE, BuOH or EtAc were added into the feeding water for the mice. After a four-week feeding with the noni material-containing water, the mice were i.p. injected with live S180 tumor cells. Fig. 3 shows that the addition of fNE, BuOH or EtAc into the feeding water effectively activated the immune system and rejected tumor challenge, although not as effectively as the delivery by direct i.p. injections. Notably, 50% of the mice fed with EtAc-containing water rejected tumor cells. To determine the reason for which the i.p. injection of the EtAc fraction did not reject tumor challenge as opposed to its oral delivery, additional studies are required.

In conclusion, this preliminary study confirms that fNE is able to activate immune responses to reject tumor challenge as well as eradicate existing tumors. The alcohol fraction (BuOH) of fNE contains the active components that can activate both innate and adaptive immune responses. More importantly, the noni materials may be delivered orally and activate the immune system, representing a novel approach for cancer prevention.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Eric Holle and his staff for the professional care of mice used in this study. This study was supported in part by the Patient-First Cancer Foundation (2007639).

References