Hepatic protection by noni fruit juice against CCl(4)-induced chronic liver damage in female SD rats

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2008 Sep;63(3):141-5. doi: 10.1007/s11130-008-0083-y. Epub 2008 Jul 25.

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) has been used throughout the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean for a variety of health conditions, including heart and liver ailments. In this study, we examined the hepatoprotective effects of TAHITIAN NONI Juice (TNJ) against CCl(4)-induced chronic liver damage in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Twelve female SD rats were divided into control, placebo and TNJ (6 mL/rat/day) groups. On day 15, animals in the placebo and TNJ groups received 0.25 mL/kg CCl(4) in corn oil once a week for 12 successive weeks. All animals were sacrificed at week 16. Blood and liver were collected for liver function, lipid panel tests, and histological observation. Histopathological examination revealed that liver sections from the TNJ + CCl(4) appeared similar to controls, whereas typical hepatic steatosis was observed in the placebo + CCl(4) group. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were increased in the placebo group compared with the TNJ group. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased in the TNJ group and decreased in the placebo group. Thus, TNJ juice appears to protect the liver from chronic exogenous CCl(4) exposures. Such protective mechanisms are supportive evidence for the utility of noni in traditional medicine for liver ailments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Carbon Tetrachloride / toxicity
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / injuries
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism
  • Liver Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Morinda / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Alkaline Phosphatase