Study of the Apoptotic Effects of Morinda citrifolia on Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene lymphoma BALB/c Mice Using TUNEL Assay

Abstract

Dibenzo[a,l] pyrene (DBP) is one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) family found throu-ghout the environment in the air, water and soil. Some of them are used in industries and medicines. Numerous studies have suggested that high levels of DBP and PAHs exposure increased the risk of developing certain types of human cancers. Morinda citrifolia (M. citrifolia) is one of the most important medicinal plants belongs to the Rubiaceae family, it has anticancer, anti-microbial, antioxidant, analgesic, cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory activities and antimicrobial and anthelmintic effects. It regulats cell function and regenerates damaged cells. In the present study, M. citrifolia was tested for its apoptotic effects against peripheral T-cell lymphoma induced by DBP in BALB/c mice. In this study, one hundred adult female BALB/c mice were used and were divided into five groups of twenty mice in each group namely; the control group (group A), the DBP treated group (group B), the M. citrifolia prevention group (group C), the M. citrifolia treated group (group D) and the M. citrifolia control group (group E). By the end of the experimental period (24 weeks) all animals were euthanized. DBP induced peripheraT-cell Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in mice organs (data not shown). Apoptosis in the lymph nodes, spleens and lungs of M. citrifolia prevention and treatment groups (groups C and D) mice showed significant difference (P<0.05) compared to groups B, A and E mice. Apoptosis was also detected in the colon and kidneys of group C mice. (No statistical analysis was used).