title: Assessment of the Role of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) Juice for Inducing Osteoblast Differentiation in Isolated Rat Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Morinda citrifolia(Noni), an important traditional medicinal plant still used in patients with bone fractures or dislocation to promote connective tissue repair and to reduce inflammation. However, the effects of Noni on bone metabolism and whether it influences the osteogenic differentiation is yet to be clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect ofMorinda citrifolia(Noni) juice on the proliferation rate of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and the osteoblastic differentiation as shown by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA expressionin vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with 200 μg/ml Noni juice enhanced the proliferation rate of the BMSC and also upregulated the osteogenic differentiation marker genes ALP and OCN, and Runx2 measured by RTPCR. Consistent with these results collagen scaffolds implantedin vivo, which were loaded with BMSC pre-exposed to Noni, showed increased bone density measured by computed tomography and histological analysis revealed neo-angiogenesis for bone formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that Noni stimulates osteoblastogenesis and can be used as adjuvant natural medicine for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
authors: Sharmila
authors: S
authors: Hussain
authors: Ramasamy
authors: R
authors: Tamizhselvi
authors: Leema
authors: L
authors: George
authors: Venkatraman
authors: V
authors: Manickam
keywords: Alkaline phosphatase; Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells; Morinda citrifolia; Osteocalcin; Runt-related transcription factor 2