Abstract:
The present study demonstrated the effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit
extract on leukocyte count and phagocytic activity in Mus musculus.
Twenty-five randomly selected male ICR mice were separated into five
groups: negative and positive control, 20%, 50%, and 100% treatment.
Both negative and positive control groups were not treated with Noni fruit
extract. The treatment was administered to mice in their specific groups
during the 16-day feeding schedule. A day after the last administration of
the fruit extract, all the mice, except the negative control group, were
injected subcutaneously with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Blood samples
were obtained via orbital bleeding and subjected to total and differential
leukocyte counts. Phagocytic activity was tested 2 days after the last
treatment. Results showed no significant changes in leukocyte differential
counts although the total leukocyte count increased significantly in the 50%
and I 00% treatment groups. The significant increase in the total leukocyte
count may be due to stimulation of the host's defense cells to produce
cytokines. Results showed an increase in phagocytic activity in the 100%
treatment. A factor called the Macrophage Activating Factor (MAF),
released by sensitized lymphocytes, could have caused the enhanced rate of
phagocytosis of the macrophages. The findings suggest that at high
concentrations, Morinda citrifolia fruit extract is able to enhance the
nonspecific defense mechanism of mice by increasing leukocyte
proliferation and phagocytic activity.
