Research on Noni Juice

A Summary of the Latest Scientific Noni Studies!

Basar S, Uhlenhut K, Högger P, Schöne F, Westendorf J.

Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Clinic Hamburg, Germany.

M. citrifolia is a tropical plant with a long tradition of medicinal use in Polynesia and tropical parts of eastern Asia and Australia. One of its favorite uses is the treatment of painful inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis. The analgesic activity of Noni fruit puree on mice was investigated using the hot plate test. A 10% solution of freeze concentrated Noni fruit puree in the drinking water of mice reduced the pain sensitivity comparably to the central analgesic drug tramadol. This effect was only partly reversed by the application of the morphine antagonist naloxone. An alcohol extract of noni fruit puree also caused an inhibition of MMP-9 release from human monocytes after stimulation with LPS. This effect was comparable to hydrocortisone (10(-5) m). The findings suggest that preparations of noni fruits are effective in decreasing pain and joint destruction caused by arthritis. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 19548275 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Phytother Res. 2009 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]Xanthine oxidase inhibiting effects of noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit juice.

Palu A, Deng S, West B, Jensen J.

Tahitian Noni International Research and Development, 737 East 1180 South American Fork, Utah 84003, USA.

Morinda citrifolia L. (noni), family Rubiaceae, has been used in Polynesia for over 2000 years for its reputed health benefits, one of which is its therapeutic effects on gout (langa e hokotanga hui). However, its healing mechanism has not been elucidated. This study showed that in an in vitro bioassay that Tahitian Noni((R)) Juice (TNJ) inhibited xanthine oxidase (XO) concentration dependently. Concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 mg/mL of TNJ inhibited XO by 11%, 113% and 148%, respectively, with an IC(50) of 3.8 mg compared with an IC(50) of 2.4 microm for allopurinol. Noni fruit juice concentrate (NFJC) also inhibited XO concentration dependently. Concentrations of 1 and 5 mg/mL NFJC inhibited XO in vitro by 184% and 159%, respectively. A 0.1 mg/mL methanol extract (NFJME) from the fractionation of noni fruit puree inhibited XO by 64%. It was elucidated that the noni fruit juice inhibitory effect on XO enzymes is the mechanism by which noni ameliorates gout and gout-like diseases. Further, the results also support the traditional usage of noni in the treatment of gout. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 19434757 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Feb 12;115(3):502-6. Epub 2007 Oct 24.The effects of Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) on the immune system: its molecular mechanisms of action.

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. afap@tni.com

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. In vitro, Tahitian Noni Juice (TNJ) and Noni fruit juice concentrates (NFJC) (1, 5mg/mL) potently activate cannabinoid 2 (CB2), but inhibit cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors in a concentration-dependant manner. In vivo, oral administration of TNJ ad libitum for 16 days decreased the production of IL-4, but increased the production of IFN-gamma. These results suggest that noni modulates the immune system via activating of the CB2 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.

Research on Noni Juice - Study 4

Chem Cent J. 2009 Oct 6;3:13.Antioxidant activity of noni juice in heavy smokers.

Wang MY, Lutfiyya MN, Weidenbacher-Hoper V, Anderson G, Su CX, West BJ.

Department of Pathology, UIC College of Medicine, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA. mianwang@uic.edu.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Noni (Morinda citrifolia) juice has demonstrated antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate this activity in humans, noni juice from Tahiti (TNJ) was evaluated in a 30 day, double-blind, and placebo controlled clinical trial with 285 current heavy smokers. Research participants were randomly assigned to three daily treatment groups: 118 mL placebo, 29.5 mL TNJ, and 118 mL TNJ. Plasma superoxide anion radicals (SAR) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels were measured pre and post-intervention. RESULTS: After 30 days, mean SAR decreased from 0.26 +/- 0.14 to 0.19 +/- 0.10 mumol/mL in the 29.5 mL dose group (P < 0.01) and from 0.26 +/- 0.22 to 0.18 +/- 0.11 mumol/mL in the 118 mL dose group (P < 0.001). LOOH levels decreased from 0.53 +/- 0.19 to 0.40 +/- 0.10 mumol/mL in the 29.5 mL dose group (P < 0.001) and from 0.55 +/- 0.21 to 0.40 +/- 0.14 mumol/mL in the 118 mL dose group (P < 0.001). No significant reductions in SAR or LOOH levels were observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest an antioxidant activity from noni juice in humans exposed to tobacco smoke, thereby replicating the results found previous chemical and in vivo tests.

PMID: 19807926 [PubMed - in process]

Research on Noni Juice - Study 5

Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2008 Jul-Sep;18(3):162-5.Morinda citrifolia fruit juice augments insulin action in Sprague-Dawley rats with experimentally induced diabetes.

Horsfall AU, Olabiyi O, Aiyegbusi A, Noronha CC, Okanlawon AO.

Dept. of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, LUTH-Idiaraba, Lagos State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of additional medicines by patients with chronic medical illness like diabetes mellitus is on the increase. We investigated the effect of fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia on blood glucose of diabetic rats alone or when combined with insulin. METHODS: Twenty adult male Sprague Dawley rats with body weights 140-210 g were used for the experiments. They were randomly allocated into groups of five, with five rats in each group. The first group, (Group A) served as control and received standard rat chow and water, throughout the duration of the study. Group B received noni juice treatment, after induction of diabetes, for 4 weeks. Group C rats received fixed dose insulin treatment (Humilin 70/30) in two divided doses, at a dose of 0.6 units/Kg body weight/day, following induction of diabetes, for 4 weeks. The Group D rats received fixed dose insulin as well as noni juice, following induction of diabetes for 4 weeks. We monitored blood glucose level by measuring fasting blood sugar weekly. The result of the experiments show that after an initial hyperglycemia, following alloxan induced diabetes, treatment with noni juice restored reduced blood sugar but euglycaemia was not achieved (Group B). RESULTS: At the end of 4 weeks of experimentation. The mean fasting blood sugar level of 8.0 +/- 0.8 mmol/L following combination therapy, in which insulin treatment was combined with noni juice for 4 weeks, was lower than when either noni juice 15.4 +/- 1.5 mmol/L or insulin was used alone (P < 0.05). 12.9 +/- 1.6 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: In this study, a synergistic action with insulin was demonstrated by fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia.

PMID: 19062482 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Research on Noni Juice - Study 6

Phytother Res. 2007 Nov;21(11):1100-1.Evaluation of the ergogenic potential of noni juice.

Ma DL, West BJ, Su CX, Gao JH, Liu TZ, Liu YW.

Tianjin Medical University, Division of Pharmacology, Tianjin, P.R. China, 300070.

Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit juice is an increasingly popular health food with many reported benefits, such as antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Traditionally, noni fruit was used by Polynesians to combat fatigue. Also, clinical studies have revealed that noni juice consumption improves quality of life scores related to physical functioning and energy levels. To further evaluate the ergogenic (antifatigue and endurance promoting) potential of noni juice, aged mice were pretreated orally with increasing doses (10, 20 and 40 mL/kg body weight) of Tahitian Noni Juice (TNJ) and then compared with young and aged controls in the forced swim test and rotarod test. The average times of all TNJ dose groups were significantly longer than the aged controls in both the swim test (36% to 45%) and the rotarod test (59% to 128%), and were similar to those of the young controls. This demonstrates not only an improvement in endurance but also in balance and flexibility. These results confirm the reported use of noni juice to combat fatigue, improve endurance and increase overall physical performance. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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