Influence of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) on Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Cervical Cancer Cells.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested that Morinda citrifolia (Noni) has potential to reduce cancer risk.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Noni, cisplatin, and their combination on DNA repair genes in the SiHa cervical cancer cell line.


METHODS
SiHa cells were cultured and treated with 10% Noni, 10 μg/dl cisplatin or their combination for 24 hours. Post culturing, the cells were pelleted, RNA extracted, and processed for investigating DNA repair genes by real time PCR.


RESULTS
The expression of nucleotide excision repair genes ERCC1, ERCC2, and ERCC4 and base excision repair gene XRCC1 was increased 4 fold, 8.9 fold, 4 fold, and 5.5 fold, respectively, on treatment with Noni as compared to untreated controls (p<0.05). In contrast, expression was found to be decreased 22 fold, 13 fold, 16 fold, and 23 fold on treatment with cisplatin (p<0.05). However, the combination of Noni and cisplatin led to an increase of 2 fold, 1.6 fold, 3 fold, 1.2 fold, respectively (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Noni enhanced the expression of DNA repair genes by itself and in combination with cisplatin. However, high expression of DNA repair genes at mRNA level only signifies efficient DNA transcription of the above mentioned genes; further investigations are needed to evaluate the DNA repair protein expression.
Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India E-mail : singh_neeta26@rediffmail.com.
Rakesh Kumar
RK
Gupta
Deepti
D
Bajpai
Neeta
N
Singh
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D032066:Morinda; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; D000076105:X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1; D051759:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000076105:X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1; C000619371:XRCC1 protein, human; C095888:xeroderma pigmentosum group F protein; C071447:ERCC1 protein, human; D004720:Endonucleases; D051759:Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein; C497292:ERCC2 protein, human; D002945:Cisplatin