Morinda citrifolia extract inhibits proliferation of non-small human lung cancer cell line NCI-H23 via apoptosis by modulating the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio

The involvement of Bcl-2 gene family in cells apoptosis mechanism is well described in many studies against cell death after treatment with anticancer drugs. Previously, the potential of M. citrifolia extract to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell growth was carried out. The mechanism involved in apoptosis of NCI-H23 cells after treated with M. citrifolia extract was studied. A search for the molecular mechanism revealed that M. citrifolia extract burden decrease the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 but the level of Bax protein remain. These in consequence elevated the ratio of Bax:Bcl-2 in apoptotic cell. These findings indicated that the apoptotic events by M. citrifolia extract were associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression in NCI-H23 cells.