One of the latest superfoods to hit the health supplement market is the Noni fruit. Noni is the common name for the Morinda citrifolia tree, which grows in various areas of the South Pacific including Australia, Malaysia, the West Indies, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hawaii. Other names for the fruit include Morinda, Indian Mulberry, Nona, Nonu, Polynesian bush fruit, Tahitian Noni juice and Cheesefruit.

The Noni tree is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 20 ft (6 m) tall. Its branches and trunk are coarse, tough wood, and the leaves are glossy, oval, and dark green. Year-round, the tree yields a small fruit, which is cream-colored and about the size of a small potato. Noni grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shores. It reaches maturity in about 18 months. The tree yields between 4–8 kilograms (8.8–18 lb) of fruit every month throughout the year. It is tolerant of saline soils, drought conditions, and secondary soils. The Noni fruit is noted for its bitter taste and unpleasant smell. Many parts of the plant are used medicinally, including the fruit, leaves, bark, flowers and roots.

History of the Noni fruit

The Noni fruit originated in India, and migrating peoples appear to have carried it around regions in the Pacific. Indeed, Noni has been commercially grown for hundreds of years in the South Pacific as a food source. The principal regions for commercial cultivation of Noni are Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Tahiti. In Polynesia, the plant is considered a sacred healing herb with many uses. Other peoples of the South Pacific, including in Hawaii and Tahiti, also use Noni as a medicinal herb. Traditional uses of all parts of the plant for various conditions are numerous. Noni juice has become an increasingly popular health drink since the 1990s, when a group of Hawaiians began marketing the juice as an herbal remedy. Since then, many claims have been made about its healing powers, a few of which have been supported by research studies.

Before any new food product can be sold on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In 2003, Noni juice was approved by the European Commission as a novel food for human consumption. A novel food is defined as a food or a food ingredient that was not used to a significant degree in the EU before May 15, 1997.

Research studies on the Noni plant

Ursolic acid, a compound found in the leaves of the Noni plant, has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. The Noni fruit contains another compound, damnacanthal, which has been shown to have efficacy against pre-cancerous cells. There is also some evidence that the Noni fruit can boost the immune system, due to substances that include proxeronine. The leaves of the plant have been found to contain chemicals that may lower blood sugar levels, as well as diminish pain and inflammation. A laboratory study demonstrated that mice with lung cancer had appreciably extended survival times when given Noni juice daily.

Medicinal uses of the Noni plant

Noni’s use in herbal medicine extends over centuries. However, it’s claimed medical applications have not yet been verified in modern clinical trials. Traditionally, the fruit has been used to counter the effects of aging and to treat diabetes, halitosis, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, high blood pressure, and as a general tonic for overall health and energy. The leaves have been used in remedies for arthritis, digestive problems, parasites, and dysentery. Topically, the leaves, fruit, and roots are used in poultices for arthritis and joint pain, headaches, for burns and lesions, and poisonous bites.

Noni is taken by some patients with cancer for its supposed anti-cancer properties. Some sufferers from diseases such as AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome use Noni to boost immune system function. People with diabetes and hypoglycemia have reported that Noni helps stabilize blood sugar levels in the body. Noni has also been used to alleviate arthritis, joint pain, and inflammatory conditions. The fruit is also used as a sedative, painkiller, and sleeping aid.

Noni juice is recommended by herbal medicine practitioners for the removal of parasites, to cleanse the digestive tract and to improve digestion, and control weight. Noni has also been used to treat: asthma; digestive disorders including ulcers; irritable bowel syndrome; constipation and diarrhea; and fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by fatigue and chronic pain.

Noni contains antibacterial compounds in the fruit (acubin, L-asperuloside and alizarin) and roots (anthrauinones). The plant also contains scopoletin which inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli, a bacterium responsible for intestinal infections, and Heliobacter pylori, which causes ulcers.

Preparations of Noni

Noni comes in several forms that include: bottled juice from the fruit; essential oil; capsules containing dried fruit, leaves, roots, or combinations thereof; tablets; teas; and topical sprays. Organically grown sources of the supplement are recommended.

Recommended dosages of Noni

Manufacturers’ recommended doses for Noni capsules, tablets, and teas should be adhered to. Noni is best taken on an empty stomach, and can be consumed daily. It is recommended that Noni not be taken with food, as digestive juices may render one of its active ingredients ineffective. Between one quarter of an ounce and one ounce of the juice is a recommended daily dosage for adults. Up to ten ounces of the juice may be taken for therapeutic use of Noni. In capsule form, it is estimated that 1,200 mg equals roughly one ounce of Noni juice.

Noni side effects

Although few allergic reactions to Noni have been reported, it is advisable to ingest small amounts of Noni (one tablespoon of the juice) to start with, as a test for adverse reactions. Noni should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, as there is insufficient evidence of its safety during pregnancy or for infants.

Reported side effects from the use of Noni include: indigestion; allergic reactions including rashes, swelling, and difficulty swallowing; diarrhea; and constipation.

Despite being approved as a Novel Food by the European Commission in 2003, liver toxicology issues have been a marketing hurdle for manufacturers of Noni supplements. A recent study found no link between adverse effects on liver and consumption of Noni juice, but cautioned that clinical data are essentially lacking. The other significant issue with Noni fruit is its unpleasant taste. Tannins in ripened Noni impart a pronounced taste and odor to the fruit. Manufacturers have developed processes for removing the tannins to enhance Noni product taste.

Noni interaction with prescription drugs

The use of Noni with potassium-sparing drugs is not recommended, due to the high potassium content in the herb. Noni can cause discoloration of the urine and may interfere with diagnostic urine tests. Noni juice may increase the risk of hyperkalemia (higher than normal blood potassium levels) in patients with kidney problems by elevating potassium levels in the body.

Noni plant constituents

Assayed as a whole fruit powder, Noni fruit has high levels of carbohydrates and dietary fiber and is a good source of protein.

Noni pulp powder is high in vitamin C and contains substantial amounts of niacin (vitamin B3), iron and potassium. Vitamin A, calcium and sodium are present in more moderate amounts.

Nutrient analyses for a major brand of Noni blend juice were published in 2002 by the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Commission on Health and Consumer Protection during a test for public safety of Noni juice. The major brand’s ingredients include Noni purée and juice concentrates from grapes and blueberries.

With the exception of vitamin C content at 31% of the daily recommended intake (DRI) in each 100g, the juice had limited nutritional content. 100g of juice provides 8% of the DRI for carbohydrates, only traces of other macronutrients and low or trace levels of 10 essential vitamins, 7 essential dietary minerals and 18 amino acids.

Noni phytochemicals

Seventeen known phytochemicals and two new phytochemicals (6-alpha-hydroxyadoxoside and 6-beta,7-beta-epoxy-8-epi-splendoside) have been identified in the Noni plant. They include: Lignans, Oligo- and polysaccharides, Flavonoids, Iridoids, Trisaccharide fatty acid esters, free fatty acids, Scopoletin, Catechin and epicatechin, Beta-sitosterol, Damnacanthal Octoanoic acid, Terpenoids, Anthraquinones, Caproic acid, Ursolic acid, Rutin and Alkaloids.

Although there is evidence from laboratory studies for bioactivity of the above phytochemicals, no clinical studies have yet been carried out.