Morinda Citrifolia

 Morinda Citrifolia Noni grows extensively throughout the South Pacific, and was at one time the most widely used medicinal plant in the region. This evergreen shrub grows especially well in the rich volcanic ash of Hawaii. Some of the beneficial constituents of Noni include various terpene compounds, caproic and caprylic acids, vitamin C and alkaloids. However, Noni is most famous for the presence of an alkoloid proxeronine, which is believed to be a precursor to xeronine.
Morinda citrifolia has been used in folk remedies by Polynesians for over 2000 years, and is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmin, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects.

Morinda citrifolia contains a mixture of anthraquinones, organic acids, xeronine, several vitamins (such as beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine), some minerals, iron and calcium. The potassium content is similar to that in tomato juice and orange juice.

Parts used to contain fever and as a tonic (Chinese, Japan, Hawaii)

• Leaves
• Flowers
• Fruit
• Bark to treat eye problems
• Skin wounds and abscesses
• Gum and throat problems
• Respiratory ailments
• Constipation
• Fever (Pacific Islands, Hawaii)
• Stomach pains and after delivery (Marshall Islands)
• Heated leaves applied to the chest relieve coughs, nausea, colic (Malaysia)
• Juice of the leaves is taken for arthritis (Philippines)
• The fruit is taken for lumbago, asthma and dysentery (Indochina)
• Pounded unripe fruit is mixed with salt and applied to cuts and broken bones
• Ripe fruit is used to draw out pus from an infected boil (Hawaii)
• Juices of over-ripe fruits are taken to regulate menstrual flow
• Ease urinary problems (Malay)
•  Fruits used to make a shampoo (Malay, Hawaii) and to treat head lice (Hawaii).

Other exotic diseases treated with the plant include diabetes (widespread) and venereal diseases.

Other names for Morinda Citrifolia: Lada, Indian mulberry, nono, och plant, cheese fruit, hog apple, mora de la India, wild pine 

Purported uses for Morinda Citrifolia: 

• Cancer treatment
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Diabetes
• Health maintenance
• Hypertension
• Immunostimulation
• Menstrual cramps
• Pain 

 Claims have been made that Morinda citrifolia improves the immune system, ultimately healing dozens of conditions ranging from addictions to varicose veins and yeast rash.
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, Morinda citrifolia 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.

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 fruit has been part of the treatment for diabetes. Most of the folk uses for diabetes involve chewing the Morinda citrifolia 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.

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 Morinda citrifolia as a supplemental agent in cancer treatment."

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 diarrhoea. 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.

There have been two reported cases in the medical literature regarding liver damage due to excessive morinda citrifolia juice consumption. As with any herb, it is best to use low amounts. I prefer using small amounts of different herbs as opposed to a large amount of a single herb.

At this point, there is no firm 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, realizing that the benefits are not predictable. 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, as long as you drink no more than one ounce every other day.