Additive anti-mutagenic effect of Tahitian Noni® juice (TNJ) and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) in ICR mice. Free

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Our previous studies have demonstrated that TNJ made from Noni fruits in Tahiti by Tahitian Noni International and MSM made by Cardinal Nutrition possessed a significant anti-mutagenic effect on micronuclei (MN) formation of erythrocytes (ETC) in bone marrow of ICR mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CPA), a well know anticancer drug that is mutagenic. The inhibition of mutagenic activity of known mutagens in experimental animals can provide an end point to evaluating the safety and anti-mutagenic activity of new chemopreventive agents, enabling us to predict their protective efficacy in humans. Noni (Morinda citrifolia), a tropical plant growing indigenously in the South Pacific area, has been used as a medicinal food in folk medicine for over 2000 years. MSM is an organic sulfur donor and a natural nutritional supplement traditionally used for pain relief. Our previous studies demonstrated that the combination regimen of TNJ and MSM has a synergistic cancer preventive effect on DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis at the initiation stage, as well as a synergistic liver protective effect in chronic liver injury induced by CCl4 in female SD rats. In this study, we demonstrated the additive anti-mutagenic effect of TNJ and MSM by using the micronucleus test of bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) in ICR mice. Thirty 22-24 g ICR mice were divided into 5 groups: 2 untreated controls, 5% TNJ, 5% MSM, and a combination group of 5% TNJ plus 5% MSM. Each group contained 3 males and 3 females. TNJ, MSM, and their combination were supplied in drinking water for 1 week. On the 7th day, 50 mg/kg CPA was given by i.p. to all animals, except the negative control group. All animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the 24th hour after CPA administration. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) was assessed under LM. The MN in the negative control, positive CPA control, 5%TNJ, 5% MSM, and 5% TNJ+5% MSM group were 2.35±1.03, 88.0±6.6, and 62±1.9, 60±1.5, and 43.0±1.5 MN per 1000 ETCs, respectively. The data indicated, in an extremely significant manner, that there was 30% inhibition in the TNJ group (p<0.05), 32% inhibition in the MSM group (p<0.01), and 52% inhibition in the combination group compared to that of the CPA positive control group. There was a significant reduction of MN formation in the combination group compared with the TNJ and MSM groups respectively. In conclusion, both TNJ and MSM are effective anti-mutagenic nutritional supplements, but an additive anti-mutagenic effect between TNJ and MSM has been discovered in this study. Therefore, the combination of TNJ and MSM may strongly protect the bone marrow from the toxicity of anticancer drugs and is safe for long-term preventive purposes. This data provides evidence, for the first time, of an in vivo additive anti-mutagenic effect of TNJ and MSM on mammalian cells