Common name: Indian mulberry
Botanical name: Morinda citrifolia
© Martin Wall
Parts used and where grown
Native to Polynesia, the noni plant (also known as Indian mulberry) is a small tree that
usually grows to a height of ten feet. The fruit, which starts out green and turns yellow, is
used medicinally.
Noni has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Historical or traditional use (may
or may not be supported by scientific studies)
Traditional Polynesian healers have used the fruit of the noni plant for just about
everything—from a tonic drink to mending broken bones—but it is said that because
of its strong, unpleasant odor and bitter taste, a person won’t take it until they are
too sick and desperate. The bark yields a red dye while the root yields a yellow one. Both
colors were used in the ceremonial outfits of Hawaiian chiefs. In the early 1990s, noni juice
became heavily marketed in the United States primarily through network marketing companies.
However, despite tremendous claims and testimonials, there is little scientific documentation
on noni.
Active constituents
The major constituents in noni appear to be polysaccharides and a compound known as
damnacanthal.1 2 3 The developer of a commercial noni product
claims the alkaloid xeronine is an important constituent, but there has been no confirmation
by independent researchers. Animal and test tubes studies show noni to have immune-enhancing activity, and an earlier animal study
seemed to indicate the fruit exerts a mild sedative effect.4 5
6 Specifically, the polysaccharide component has been shown to increase the release of
immune-enhancing compounds that activate white blood cells. Also, damnacanthal is thought to
be responsible for producing sedative effects in animal studies.
How much is usually taken?
The usual recommendation is 4 ounces (120 ml) of noni juice 30 minutes before breakfast
(effectiveness is thought to be best on an empty stomach). Commercial products are now
available that have either eliminated the odor, altered the taste, or made it available as an
extract in tablets or capsules to increase palatability. For liquid concentrates the typical
recommendation is 2 tablespoons (30 ml) per day. For powdered extracts the typical
recommendation is 500 to 1,000 mg daily.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
There have been no commonly reported side effects following the ingestion of noni. Since
the use of noni during pregnancy and
breast-feeding has not been adequately studied, it is recommended that it not be used during
these times.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with noni.
References:1. Levand O, Larson HO. Some chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia.
Planta Med 1979;36:186–7.
2. Hirazumi A, Furusawa E. An immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich
substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (noni) with antitumour activity.
Phytother Res 1999;13:380–7.
3. Hiramatsu T, Imoto M, Koyano T, Umezawa K. Induction of normal
phenotypes in ras-transformed cells by damnacanthal from Morinda citrifolia. Cancer
Lett 1993;73:161–6.
4. Hirazumi A, Furusawa E, Chou SC, Hokama Y. Anticancer activity of
Morinda citrifolia (noni) on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in syngeneic
mice. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1994;37:145–6.
5. Hirazumi A, Furusawa E, Chou SC, Hokama Y. Immunomodulation
contributes to the anticancer activity of morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit juice. Proc West
Pharmacol Soc 1996;39:7–9 .
6. Younos C, Rolland A, Fleurentin J, et al. Analgesic and behavioural
effects of Morinda citrifolia. Planta Med 1990;56:430–4.