Noni
Morinda citrifolia L. Family: Rubiaceae
Morinda , noni , hog apple , Indian mulberry , mengkoedoe , mora de la India , pain killer , ruibarbo caribe , wild pine
 
Clinical Overview
Uses
Morinda has been used for heart remedies, arthritis, headache, digestive and liver ailments.

Dosing
There is no clinical evidence to support specific dosage of morinda, which is typically provided as a juice product.

Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions
None well documented.

Adverse Reactions
No information is available on the side effects of morinda.

Toxicology
No information is available about the toxicity of morinda. The fruit has long been reported as edible.

 
Botany
The morinda plant, native to Asia, Australia and Polynesia (eg, Tahiti), is a 3 to 8 m high tree or shrub. Its evergreen leaves are oblong and 10 to 45 cm in length. The plant's white flowers are tubular, with conelike heads. The fruit is yellow-white in color, oval in shape, about the size of a potato and has a “bumpy” surface. The ripened fruit has a characteristic cheese-like, offensive odor. Each fruit contains 4 seeds, 3 mm in length. 1
 
History
It is believed that Polynesian healers have used morinda fruits for thousands of years to help treat a variety of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and aging. Ancient healing manuscripts cite the fruit as a primary ingredient in natural healing formulations. Today, fruit preparations are sold as juice, in dried “fruit-leather” form and as a dry extract in capsules. US patents can also be found, including such patents as processing morinda fruit into powder, 2 and for xeronine, an alkaloid isolated for medical, food and industrial use. 3
 
Chemistry
Morinda citrifolia fruits contain essential oils with hexoic and octoic acids, paraffin and esters of ethyl and methyl alcohols. 1 Ripe fruit contains n-caproic acid, presumably responsible for its distinctive odor, known to attract insects such as drosophilia sechellia. 4 Fresh plants contain anthraquinones, morindone and alizarin. 1 A new anthraquinone glycoside from morinda heartwood has recently been described. 5 Hawaiian researcher Ralph Heinicke discovered a small plant alkaloid he termed “xeronine.” 3 Damnacanthal, morindone and alizarin are present in cell suspension cultures. 1
 
Uses and Pharmacology
Morinda citrifolia has been used medicinally for heart remedies, arthritis (by wrapping the leaves around affected joints), headache (local application of leaves on forehead), GI and liver ailments. 1
It has been theorized that xeronine works at a molecular level to repair damaged cells, regulating their function. It is claimed that all body cells and systems, including digestive, respiratory, bone and skin can benefit. 2
An overview of traditional applications of the plant in Samoan culture is available. 6
Morinda has been evaluated for its anticancer activity on Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. It increased lifespan repeatedly in different batches of mice, all yielding similar results. The proposed mechanism is enhancement of the immune system, with macrophage and lymphocyte involvement. 7
Damnacanthal from M. citrifolia root induced normal morphology and cytoskeletal structure in Kirsten-ras Normal Rat Kidney transformed cells (precursors to certain cancer types). This extract was found to be most effective in inhibiting reticular activating system (RAS) function among the 500 extracts tested. 8
Alcoholic extracts of M. citrifolia leaves displayed good anthelmintic activity in vitro against the human parasite Ascaris lumbricoides . 9 Lyophilized aqueous root extracts of the plant showed central analgesic activity, among other effects, suggesting sedative properties of the plant as well. 10
The fruit of the plant is used as a food, layered in sugar. Leaves are also consumed raw or cooked. The roots yield a red dye, the bark, a yellow dye. 1
 
Administration & Dosage
There is no clinical evidence to support specific dosage of morinda, which is typically provided as a juice product.
 
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
 
Interactions
None well documented.
 
Adverse Reactions
Research reveals no information regarding adverse reactions of morinda.
 
Toxicology
No information is available about the toxicity of M. citrifolia or its constituents. The fruit has long been reported as edible.
 
References
 

1. Morton J. Atlas of Medicinal Plants of Middle America. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publ. 1981;868–69.

 

2. US patent # 5,288,491, date of patent Feb. 22, 1994.

 

3. US patent # 4,409,144, date of patent Oct. 11,1983.

 

4. Higa I, et al. Genetica 1993;88(2–3):129–36.  PubMed

 

5. Srivastava M, et al. International Journal of Pharmacognosy 1993;31(3):182–84.

 

6. Dittmar A. Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants 1993;1(3):77–92.

 

7. Hirazumi A, et al. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1994;37:145–46.  PubMed

 

8. Hiramatsu T, et al. Cancer Lett 1993;73(2–3):161–66.  PubMed

 

9. Raj R. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1975;19(1):47–49.

 

10. Younos C, et al. Planta Med 1990;56(5):430–34.  PubMed