Role of Noni in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer. The two main forms of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Lymphoma occurs when cells of the immune system called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, grow and multiply uncontrollably. Malignant lymphocytes can travel to many parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood, or other organs, and form a mass called a tumor. The body has two main types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas: B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells).

Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin disease, is not as common as NHL. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 9,000 new cases of HL are projected each year. Although the cancer can occur in both children and adults, it is most commonly diagnosed in young adults between the ages of 15 and 35 and in older adults over age 50.

Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by the presence of very large cells called Reed-Sternberg (R-S) cells, although other abnormal cell types may be present. HL usually starts in the lymph nodes, and often spreads from one lymph node to another and can also spread to other organs.

Common signs and symptoms of HL include swelling of the lymph nodes (which is often but not always painless), fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and lack of energy. While most people who have these complaints will not have HL, anyone with persistent symptoms should be seen by a physician to make sure that lymphoma is not present.

Role of Noni in Lymphoma:

Noni is a unique polysaccharide that has been used as a chemo-immunotherapy agent to treat cancer. Polysaccharide present in Noni develops an anti-tumor response by stimulating the release of various cytokines mediator of the immune system of our body like:

Interleukin

Interferon Gamma

Nitric Oxide

Tumor Necrosis factor

Natural Killer Cells

Thus they help for controlling carcinogenesis by inhibiting the growth and mutation of the malignant cells.

Pretreatment with noni followed by ultraviolet irradiation increased the levels of phosphorylated extra cellular signal-regulated kinases and stress-activated protein kinases enzymes in the body. Activation of these kinases plays an important role in triggering apoptosis. Thus their activation proves the stimulatory effect of Noni on ultraviolet-induced apoptosis.

Noni exhibits ant angiogenesis effects on the malignant cells. The cancer tumor has the ability to develop its own blood a vessel around it’s to get their nutrition for growth by the process of angiogenesis. Many phytochemicals present in Noni like Damnacanthal, Alizarin, Limonene, Epigallocatechin Gallate etc. just a few among the 150+ phytochemicals present in Noni that exhibit Anti-Angiogenesis effect on the malignant cells. Thus inhibits the growth and mutation of malignant cells and induces program cell death or apoptosis.