Noni stimulates the immune system to reject tumor cells: Research
Friday, August 16, 2013 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041651_noni_immune_system_tumor_cells.html#ixzz2cAMa4CUc
(NaturalNews) It is a widely reputed "superfood" that a cohort of published scientific research suggests possesses incredible healing powers. But the anti-cancer effects of Morinda citrifolia, also known more popularly as "noni," are among its most pronounced benefits, as a 2008 study out of South Carolina found that the fermented juice of noni stimulates the body's natural immune system to reject the formation and spread of tumor cells.
Researchers from the Oncology Research Institute at the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center in Clemson discovered this after testing the effects of fermented noni exudate (fNE) in rats -- fNE, in case you were unaware, is dried noni in whole form, which includes the juice, pulp, and seeds of the fruit. Healthy rats, as well as rats lacking certain blood and immune cells, were given fNE as part of the study.
Published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Oncology Reports, the findings of the study are truly astounding. In healthy rats with normal functioning lymphocytes and healthy natural killer (NK) cell function, intraperitoneal injection of fNE effectively induced complete tumor rejection by spurring the action of granulocytes and NK cells in the peripheral blood, peritoneums, and spleens of the rats. Even in rats lacking functional lymphocytes, partial tumor rejection was observed.
"These data demonstrate that fNE appears to be able to stimulate the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system to reject tumor cells," wrote the authors in their conclusion. "NK cells respond quickly and appear to be among the major players of the innate immune system, while the adaptive immune system reacts later with a retained memory."
Numerous government-funded studies confirm anti-cancer properties of noni
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) also recognizes the anti-cancer benefits of noni, which is why this division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently funding research into the fruit. According to the agency's official website, NCCAM is currently moving forward with a laboratory study on noni's effects on prostate cancer cells, while the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is funding preliminary research on noni in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
"In laboratory research, noni has shown antioxidant, immune-stimulating, and tumor-fighting properties," says NCCAM. "These results suggest that noni may warrant further study for conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease."
The results of a Phase I clinical trial where patients with advanced cancer were given noni have also been promising. Published in 2009 in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, the results of this particular trial revealed that taking as much as 12 grams of noni extract daily can help advanced cancer patients not only improve their overall quality of life but also potentially reverse their condition. NCCAM has yet to publish the results of Phase II trials involving noni.
A 2006 study presented at the IVth International Conference on Aromatic and Medicinal Plants from French Overseas Regions also observed an anti-cancer effect in mice given noni. Particularly with regards to tumor metastasis, noni was found to not only block the growth of tumor cells but also prevent them from affixing to tissues within the body.
For a more complete list of published studies on the nutritive and health benefits of noni -- noni has also been shown to help relieve stress and anxiety; control blood pressure; fight damaging and chronic inflammation; boost energy levels; regulate blood sugar; battle diabetes; control blood serum cholesterol levels; and boost immunity, among other functions --
be sure to visit NoniResearch.org:
http://www.noniresearch.org
Sources for this article include:
http://science.naturalnews.com
http://nccam.nih.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.noniresearch.org
http://nccam.nih.gov
http://science.naturalnews.com
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041651_noni_immune_system_tumor_cells.html#ixzz2cAMShvIJ
