Morinda Citrifolia plant side effects capsules
Morinda citrifolia, commonly called noni, has been used as a medicinal plant for a long time. Over the last decade, a growing number of people have become interested in the medicinal uses of noni juice, made from the fruit of the Indian mulberry Morinda citrifolia of the South Pacific Islands of Tahiti, and more recently from Hawaii. Noni capsules are available for sale.
Benefit of Morinda Citrifolia
plant
Claims have been made that
noni improves the immune system,
ultimately healing dozens of conditions ranging from addictions to varicose
veins and yeast rash. What does the scientific research say?
Cancer
Morinda citrifolia fruit juice contains a polysaccharide-rich substance called
noni-ppt with anti-tumor activity. In a study performed at the University of
Hawaii, administration of noni-ppt significantly enhanced the duration of
survival of mice with lung tumor. The researchers say, "This suggests possible
clinical applications of noni-ppt as a supplemental agent in cancer treatment."
Cancer preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni).
Wang MY, Su C.
Department of Pathology, UIC College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois 61107, USA.
Morinda citrifolia (Noni) has been extensively used in folk medicine by
Polynesians for over 2,000 years. It has been reported to have broad therapeutic
effects, including anticancer activity, in both clinical practice and laboratory
animal models. The mechanism for these effects remains unknown. The hypothesis
that Morinda citrifolia possesses a cancer preventive effect at the initiation
stage of carcinogenesis was studied. Our preliminary data indicated that 10%
Tahitian Noni Liquid Dietary Supplement or Tahitian Noni Juice, made from
Morinda citrifolia fruit by Morinda Inc, in drinking water for one week was able
to prevent DMBA-DNA adduct formation. The levels of DMBA-DNA adducts were
reduced by 30% in the heart, 41% in the lung, 42% in the liver, and 80% in the
kidney of female SD rats. Even more dramatic results were obtained in male C57
BL-6 mice: 10% Morinda citrifolia was able to reduce DMBA-DNA adduct formation
by 60% in the heart, 50% in the lung, 70% in the liver, and 90% in the kidney.
In order to explore the mechanism of this preventive effect, the antioxidant
activity of Morinda citrifolia was examined in vitro by lipid hydroperoxide (LPO)
and tetrazolium nitroblue (TNB) assays. In the LPO assay, LPO oxidizes
leucomethylene blue to methylene blue in the presence of hemoglobin. The
resultant blue color was quantified at 660 nm spectrophotometrically. In the TNB
assay, superoxide anion radicals (SAR) reduce TNB into formazan blue that was
also measured by absorption at 602 nm. Morinda citrifolia showed a
dose-dependent inhibition of both LPO and SAR in our system. The antioxidant
activity of Morinda citrifolia was compared to the effects of vitamin C, grape
seed powder (GSP), and pycnogenol (PYC) at the daily dose per serving level
recommended by U.S. RDAs or manufacturers. The results suggest that prevention
of carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and the antioxidant activity of Morinda
citrifoliamay contribute to the cancer preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia.
Cholesterol
Reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides have been seen in
smokers who drank a product containing juice from the fruit of the
Morinda citrifolia tree
every day for a month. The study was funded by the manufacturer of the product,
sold as Tahitian Noni Juice. Researcher Mian-Ying Wang, MD, says she first
became interested in studying
Morinda citrifolia juice in 1999 after becoming convinced that
it helped reduce her pain from a wrist fracture.
Morinda Citrifolia
and diabetes
In Java,
Morinda citrifolia
has been part of the treatment for
diabetes. Most
of the folk uses for diabetes involve chewing the leaves or a combination of the plant and
leaves. Chewing mulberry leaves releases and activates large amounts of mucilage or
insoluble dietary fiber. The fiber may slow the absorption of simple sugars from the gut.
The effect in most patients would be a slight reduction in the peak glucose level
following a meal.
Infections
Infections are the
most common applications of Morinda species. The extract from the leaves of
Morinda citrifolia (not the fruit that renders noni juice) displayed a moderate
suppression of Ascaris lumbricoides (intestinal nematodes) growth in the test
tube. However, noni juice has not been shown to improve infections once symptoms
have manifested, although there are anecdotal reports of patients feeling better
from mild infections after using noni. Decoctions of the leaves or roots of
related mulberry species may have some suppressive effect on parasitic
infections.
The effects of Morinda citrifolia L. noni on the immune
system: Its molecular mechanisms of action.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 October. Palu AK, Kim AH, West BJ, Deng S, Jensen J,
White L. Noni Benefits Research Department, Tahitian Noni International Research
Center, 737 East 1180 South, American Fork, UT 84003, USA.
The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms involved in the
immunomodulatory effects of Morinda citrifolia L. noni in vitro and in vivo in
mice. These results suggest that Morinda
citrifolia modulates the immune system via
activating of the CB(2) receptors, and suppressing of the IL-4, but increasing
the production of IFN-gamma cytokines. It may also exert beneficial
immunomodulation effects in conditions involving inadequate immune responses.
Pain
Pain, painful
inflammation and swellings are the second most common usage of Morinda species.
Studies in mice have demonstrated that extracts from the root of Morinda
citrifolia (again, not rendered from the fruit) have some pain relieving and
sedative activity.
Diabetes: In Java,
Morinda citrifolia has been part of the treatment for diabetes.
Most of the folk uses for diabetes involve chewing the leaves or a combination
of the plant and leaves. Chewing mulberry leaves releases and activates large
amounts of mucilage or insoluble dietary fiber. The fiber may slow the
absorption of simple sugars from the gut. The effect in most patients would be a
slight reduction in the peak glucose level following a meal.
Side Effects of
Morinda Citrifolia
In some regions of the world
Morinda citrifolia and other mulberry species are used as a
laxative. Predictably, some patients using higher concentrations of
Morinda citrifolia juice
may experience some diarrhea. Although the risk of long-term adverse reactions
is not currently known, it should be very low, because of the long history of
mulberry species as a food in wide geographic regions. Patients with diabetes
would be wise to find out the amount of sugars used to sweeten the particular
product they wish to use.
Morinda Citrifolia
Dosage
Suggested dose is three capsules per day, taken with a few ounces
of water, half an hour before a meal. All three capsules may be taken at once or
in divided doses. Three capsules are equivalent to about two tablespoons of
liquid
Morinda citrifolia juice. A concentrated form of the juice is
also available.
Morinda citrifolia is often mixed with other fruit juices because
of its unpleasant taste.
Morinda Citrifolia Chemistry
Conclusion
As of January of 2008, there are no scientific data to support the use of
Morinda citrifolia juice as a substitute for any standard medical treatment. Patients who are
looking for additional help in treating mild infections, cancer or chronic pain
could try
Morinda citrifolia juice, realizing that the benefits are likely to be minimal.
Perhaps future research will give us additional clues to the potential
therapeutic benefits of using
Morinda citrifolia juice or extracts. In the meantime, due to
its content of various nutrients,
Morinda citrifolia juice is a healthy drink to consume as
part of an overall balanced diet.
Morinda Citrifolia
Research Update
Cancer preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni).
Wang MY, Su C.
Department of Pathology, UIC College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois 61107, USA.
Morinda citrifolia has been extensively used in folk medicine by
Polynesians for over 2,000 years. It has been reported to have broad therapeutic
effects, including anticancer activity, in both clinical practice and laboratory
animal models. The mechanism for these effects remains unknown. The hypothesis
that Morinda citrifolia possesses a cancer preventive effect at the initiation
stage of carcinogenesis was studied. Our preliminary data indicated that 10%
Tahitian Noni Liquid Dietary Supplement or Tahitian Noni Juice, made from
Morinda citrifolia fruit by Morinda Inc, in drinking water for one week was able
to prevent DMBA-DNA adduct formation. The levels of DMBA-DNA adducts were
reduced by 30% in the heart, 41% in the lung, 42% in the liver, and 80% in the
kidney of female SD rats. Even more dramatic results were obtained in male C57
BL-6 mice: 10% Morinda citrifolia was able to reduce DMBA-DNA adduct formation
by 60% in the heart, 50% in the lung, 70% in the liver, and 90% in the kidney.
In order to explore the mechanism of this preventive effect, the antioxidant
activity of Morinda citrifolia was examined in vitro by lipid hydroperoxide (LPO)
and tetrazolium nitroblue (TNB) assays. In the LPO assay, LPO oxidizes
leucomethylene blue to methylene blue in the presence of hemoglobin. In the TNB
assay, superoxide anion radicals (SAR) reduce TNB into formazan blue that was
also measured by absorption at 602 nm. Morinda citrifolia showed a
dose-dependent inhibition of both LPO and SAR in our system. The antioxidant
activity of Morinda citrifolia was compared to the effects of vitamin C, grape
seed powder, and pycnogenol at the daily dose per serving level
recommended by U.S. RDAs or manufacturers. The results suggest that prevention
of carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and the antioxidant activity of Morinda
citrifoliamay contribute to the cancer preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia.
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