Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Fruit - Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Safety

Olivier Potterat; Matthias Hamburger

doi:10.1055/s-2007-967115

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2007; 73(3): 191-199
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967115

Review

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Fruit - Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Safety

Olivier Potterat¹ , Matthias Hamburger¹

¹Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Abstract

Products derived from Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) have been commercialised in the USA since the 1990s and are increasingly distributed all over the world. A large number of beneficial effects have been claimed for Noni. Fruit juice of Noni has been approved as a Novel Food by the European Commission in 2003. This article reviews current knowledge on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, safety aspects of Noni fruit and Noni-derived products, and health-related claims and benefits. The knowledge on the chemical composition of Noni fruit has considerably increased over recent years. A number of in vitro and, to a certain extent, in vivo studies demonstrate a range of potentially beneficial effects. However, clinical data are essentially lacking. To what extent the findings from experimental pharmacological studies are of potential clinical relevance is not clear at present. Based on a toxicological assessment, Noni juice was considered as safe. Due to recent reports of cases of hepatotoxicity, the safety issue has been re-examined in Europe. While the European Food Safety Authority sees no link between adverse effects on liver and consumption of Noni juice, a continuing monitoring of the situation is desirable and some vigilance advised.

Key words

Noni - Morinda citrifolia - Rubiaceae - novel food - phytochemistry - pharmacology - hepatotoxicity

Full Text

References

1 Wang M Y, West B J, Jensen C J, Nowicki D, Su C, Palu A K. et al . Morinda citrifolia (Noni): a literature review and recent advances in Noni research. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002; 23 1127-41.
2 Seidemann J. Noni: Fragwürdige Zauberfrucht aus der Südsee. Pharm Z. 2001; 146 36-40.
3 McClatchey W. From Polynesian healers to health food stores: changing perspectives of Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae). Integr Cancer Ther. 2002; 1 110-20.
4 Heinicke R M. The pharmacologically active ingredient of Noni. Pacific Trop Bot Gard Bull. 1985; 15 10-4.
5 Dixon A R, McMillan H, Etkin N L. Ferment this: the transformation of Noni, a traditional Polynesian medicine (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae). Econ Bot. 1999; 53 51-68.
6 Morton J F. The ocean-going Noni, or Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae) and some of its ”colourful” relatives. Econ Bot. 1992; 46 241-56.
7 Nelson S C. Noni cultivation in Hawaii. Fruits and Nuts. 2001; 4 1-4.
8 Nelson S C. Noni cultivation and Production in Hawai’i. In: Proceedings of the 2002 Hawai’i Noni Conference 2003. Nelson SC, editor. University of Hawaii at Manoa: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources 2003: 33-50.
9 Sang S, Ho C T. Chemical components of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) root. ACS Sym Ser. 2006; 925 185-92.
10 Sang S, Wang M, He K, Liu G, Dong Z, Badmaev V. et al . Chemical components in noni fruits and leaves (Morinda citrifolia L.) ACS Sym Ser. 2002; 803 134-50.
11 Scientific Committee on Food Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on Tahitian Noni® juice. Available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out151_en.pdf. Expressed December 4 2002 in Brussels.
12 Shovic A C, Whistler W A. Food sources of provitamin A and vitamin C in the American Pacific. Trop Sci. 2001; 41 199-202.
13 Bui A KT, Bacic A, Pettolino F. Polysaccharide composition of the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Phytochemistry. 2006; 67 1271-5.
14 Wang M, Kikuzaki H, Csisar K, Boyd C D, Maunakea A, Fong S FT. et al . Novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester identified from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). J Agric Food Chem. 1999; 47 4880-2.
15 Wang M, Kikuzaki H, Jin Y, Nakatani N, Zhu N, Csiszar K. et al . Novel glycosides from noni (Morinda citrifolia). J Nat Prod. 2000; 63 1182-3.
16 Samoylenko V, Zhao J, Dunbar D C, Khan I A, Rushing J W, Muhammad I. New constituents from Noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit juice. J Agric Food Chem. 2006; 54 6398-402.
17 Dalsgaard P W, Potterat O, Dieterle F, Paululat T, Kühn T, Hamburger M. Noniosides E - H, new trisaccharide fatty acid esters from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Planta Med. 2006; 72 1322-7.
18 Levand O, Larson H O. Some chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia . Planta Med. 1979; 36 186-7.
19 Kamiya K, Tanaka Y, Endang H, Umar M, Satake T. New anthraquinone and iridoid from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia . Chem Pharm Bull. 2005; 53 1597-9.
20 Su B N, Pawlus A D, Jung H A, Keller W J, McLaughlin J L, Kinghorn A D. Chemical constituents of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) and their antioxidant activity. J Nat Prod. 2005; 68 592-5.
21 Kamiya K, Tanaka Y, Endang H, Umar M, Satake T. Chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia fruits inhibit copper-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation. J Agric Food Chem. 2004; 52 5843-8.
22 Pawlus A D, Su B N, Keller W J, Kinghorn A D. An anthraquinone with potent quinone reductase-inducing activity and other constituents of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). J Nat Prod. 2005; 68 1720-2.
23 Schripsema J, Caprini G P, Dagnino D. Revision of the structures of citrifolinin A, citrifolinoside, yopaaoside B, and morindacin, iridoids from Morinda citrifolia L. and Morinda coreia Ham. Org Lett. 2006; 8 5337-40.
24 Farine J P, Legal L, Moretau B, Le Quere J L. Volatile components of ripe fruits of Morinda citrifolia and their effects on Drosophila . Phytochemistry. 1996; 41 433-8.
25 Wei G J, Huang T C, Huang A S, Ho C T. Flavor compounds of Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) juice. ACS Sym Ser. 2004; 871 52-61.
26 Lachenmeier K, Musshoff F, Madea B, Reusch H, Lachenmeier D W. Authentication of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) juice. Dtsch Lebensmitt Rundsch. 2006; 102 58-61.
27 Liu G, Bode A, Ma W Y, Sang W, Ho C T, Dong Z. Two novel glycosides from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) inhibit AP-1 transactivation and cell transformation in the mouse epidermal JB6 cell line. Cancer Res. 2001; 61 5749-56.
28 Hirazumi A, Furusawa E. An immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) with antitumor activity. Phytother Res. 1999; 13 380-7.
29 Furusawa E, Hirazumi A, Story S, Jensen J. Antitumor potential of a polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) on sarcoma 180 ascites tumor in mice. Phytother Res. 2003; 17 1158-64.
30 Wang M Y, Anderson G L, Nowicki D. Preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) at the initiation stage of mammary breast carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzo(a)anthracene (DMBA) in female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2002; 11 1218S.
31 Wang M Y, Su C. Cancer preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Ann NY Acad Sci. 2001; 952 161-8.
32 Wang M Y, Anderson G L, Nowicki D. Synergistic effect of Tahitian noni juice (TNJ) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on mammary breast cancer prevention at the induction stage of chemical carcinogenesis induced by DMBA in female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2003; 12 1354S.
33 Nowicki J, Haun J, Peng L, Anderson G, Nowicki D, Wang M Y. Antimutagenic activity of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice in ICR mice. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2005; 14 1689S.
34 Hornick C A, Myers A, Sadkowska-Krowicka H, Anthony C T, Woltering E A. Inhibition of angiogenic initiation and disruption of newly established human vascular networks by juice from Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Angiogenesis. 2003; 6 143-9.
35 Arpornsuwan T, Punjanon T. Tumor cell-selective antiproliferative effect of the extract from Morinda citrifolia fruits. Phytother Res. 2006; 20 515-7.
36 McKoy M LG, Thomas E A, Simon O R. Preliminary investigation of the anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous extract from Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Proc West Pharmacol Soc. 2002; 45 76-8.
37 Xu J, McSloy A C, Anderson B K, Goodbee R G, Peek S F, Darien B J. Tahitian Noni® Equine Essentials TM: a novel anti-inflammatory and COX-2 inhibitor which regulates LPS induced inflammatory mediator expression in equine neonatal monocytes. J Vet Intern Med. 2006; 20 756.
38 Kim S W, Jo B K, Jeong J H, Choi S U, Hwang Y I. Induction of extracellular matrix synthesis in normal human fibroblasts by anthraquinone isolated from Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit. J Med Food. 2005; 8 552-5.
39 Wang M Y, Henley E, Nolting J, Cheerva A, Jensen J, Anderson G. et al . The effects of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice on serum cholesterol and triglyceride in current smokers. Circulation. 2006; 113 E327.
40 Ayanbule F, Wang M Y, Peng L, Nowicki J, Anderson G, Nowicki D. Antithrombotic effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice on the jugular vein thrombosis induced by ferric chloride in male adult SD rats. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006; 26 E104.
41 Zin Z M, Abdul-Hamid A, Osman A. Antioxidative activity of extracts from Menkudu (Morinda citrifolia L.) root, fruit and leaf. Food Chem. 2002; 78 227-31.
42 Su C X, Jensen J C, Zhou B N. Morinda citrifolia (Noni): its effect on insulin secretion by G-protein-coupled receptor systems. San Diego, CA; 229th ACS National Meeting 2005.
43 Wang M Y, Anderson G L, Nowicki D, Jensen J. Protective effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice against chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in female SD rats. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2004; 13 1838S.
44 Wong D KW. Are immune responses pivotal to cancer patient’s long term survival? Two clinical case-study reports on the effects of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). Hawaii Med J. 2004; 63 182-4.
45 The Noni study Available at http://www.crch.org/CenStudyNoni.htm. Accessed in 2006.
46 Clinical trial: study of Noni in cancer patients. Available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00033878. Accessed in 2006.
47 Issell B F, Gotay C, Pagano I, Franke A. Quality of life measures in a phase I trial of noni. J Clin Oncol. 2005; 23 782S.
48 Ghai G, Ho C T, Rosen R T, Wang M, Boyd C D, Csiszar K. Glycosides from Noni extract for treatment of tumours. US Patent Application 2002 - 150 213; 2003.
49 Jensen C J, Palu A K, Story S P, Jensen S, Su C. Preventative and treatment effects of Morinda citrifolia as a colon cancer cell growth inhibitor. US Patent Application 2002 - 285 334; 2003.
50 Jensen C J, Palu A K, Lemus D, Fuenzalida M, Mihovilovic D. Anti-angiogenesis effects of Morinda citrifolia . US Patent Application 2002 - 286 112; 2004.
51 Palu A K, West B J, Jensen C J, Su C, Zhou B N, Story S P. Preventative and treatment effects of Morinda citrifolia as an aromatase inhibitor. US Patent Application 2004 - 192 761; 2004.
52 Su C, West B, Palu A, Hirasumi-Kim A, Jensen C J, Story S. Morinda citrifolia-based formulation for inhibiting metastasis of carcinogenic cells. PCT International Application WO 2 004 098 514; 2004.
53 Wang M Y, Jensen C J, Su C. Preventative effects of Morinda citrifolia on mammary breast cancer. US Patent Application 2005 - 037 101; 2005.
54 West B J, Jensen C J, Palu A K, Ogden R V, Gerson S. Method and formulation for treating candidiasis using Morinda citrifolia . US Patent Application 2002 - 294 089; 2003.
55 Gerson S, Palu A K, Zhou B N, Su C, Jensen C J, Story S P. et al .Antifungal effects of Morinda citrifolia . US Patent Application 2003 - 439 596; 2003.
56 Su C X, Jensen C J, Story S P. Morinda citrifolia juice dietary supplement for reducing cellular damage in the human body. PCT International Application WO 2001-US47203; 2002.
57 European Commission, Commission Decision of 5 June 2003 authorising the placing on the market of ”noni juice” (juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L.) as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) Nr. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union. 2003; L 144/12 12.6.2003.
58 European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General. Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on Tahitian Noni® juice. Available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/ index_en.html. Accessed on December 11, 2002.
59 West B J, Jensen C J, Westendorf J, White L D. A safety review of Noni fruit juice. J Food Sci. 2006; 71 R100-6.
60 Mancebo A, Scull I, Gonzalez Y, Artega M E, Gonzales B O, Fuentes D. et al . Ensayo de toxicidad a dosis repetidas (28 dias) por via oral del extracto acuoso de Morinda citrifolia en ratas Sprague Dawley. Rev Toxicol. 2002; 19 73-8.
61 Chearskul S, Kooptiwut S, Chatchawalvanit S, Onreabroi S, Churintrapun M, Saealamp P. et al . Morinda citrifolia has very weak estrogenic activity in vivo . Thai J Physiol Sci. 2004; 17 22-9.
62 Nakanishi K, Sasaki S I, Kiang A K, Goh J, Kakisawa H, Ohashi M. et al . Phytochemical survey of Malaysian plants. Preliminary chemical and pharmacological screening. Chem Pharm Bull. 1965; 13 882-90.
63 Wang M Y, West B J, Jensen C J, Nowicki D, Su C, Palu A K. et al . Morinda citrifolia (Noni): a literature review and recent advances in Noni research. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2002; 23 1127-41.
64 West B J, Jensen C J, Westendorf J. Noni juice is not hepatotoxic. World J Gastroenterol. 2006; 12 3616-9.
65 Millonig G, Stadlmann S, Vogel W. Herbal hepatotoxicity: acute hepatitis caused by a noni preparation (Morinda citrifolia). Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005; 17 445-7.
66 Stadlbauer V, Fickert P, Lackner C, Schmerlaib J, Krisper P, Trauner M. et al . Hepatotoxicity of noni juice: report of two cases. World J Gastroenterol. 2005; 11 4758-60.
67 Bundesinstitut für Riskobewertung. Information Nr. 019/2006 des BfR of March 6. 2006.
68 Yüce B, Gülberg V, Diebold J, Gerbes A L. Hepatitis induced by Noni juice from Morinda citrifolia: a rare case of hepatotoxicity or the tip of the iceberg?. Digestion. 2006; 73 167-70.
69 West B J. Hepatotoxicity from interferon-beta not from Noni juice. Digestion. 2006; 74 47-8.
70 Jensen J, Westendorf J, Wang M Y, Wadsworth D P. Noni protects the liver. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006; 18 575-7.
71 Burrowes J D, Van Houten G. Use of alternative medicine by patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2005; 12 312-25.
72 European Food Safety Authority. Minutes of the 13^th Plenary Meeting of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies, 15 - 16 February 2006. Available at http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/nda_opinions/catindex_en.html. Accessed in 2006.
73 Opinion on a request from the Commission related to the safety of Noni juice (juice of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia). EFSA J 2006 376: 1-12.

Prof. Dr. M. Hamburger

Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Basel

Klingelbergstrasse 50

4056 Basel

Switzerland

Phone: +41-61-267-1425

Fax: +41-61-267-1474

Email: matthias.hamburger@unibas.ch