Micronutrients and therapeutic

properties of Morinda citrifolia

(noni) juice

Erliana Novitasari

2nd April 2015

Introduction
Noni fruit or Morinda citrifolia is a kind of fruit originated in tropical
countries of Asia and Polynesia. It has been known in various vernacular
names such as Indian mulberry, nuna or ach on the Indian subcontinent,
mengkudu in Indonesia and Malaysia, cheese fruit in Australia and nonu in
Tonga. Recently, it can be found in Southeast Asia, Australia, Polynesia,
India, Caribbean, Central and Northern South America (Chan-Blanco et al.,
2006). According to Puspayanti et al. (2014), most of noni plant grow
wildly in the woods or in the yard but most people do not like to consume
it in a raw fruit form. It is since the ripe fruit of this evergreen shrub has a
strong butyric acid smell and flavor (Krishnaiah et al., 2009). Eventhough
as a fruit juice, M. citrifolia has also bad smell tend to cheesy flavor and
odor because of its carboxylic acids content, but it might consumed easier
than in a raw form (Anwar et al., 2007). In order to increase its property,
the juice of noni fruits is sometimes consumed together with garlic and
pepper by Jamaicans (McKoy et al., 2002).
M. citrifolia juice which is made from the fruits of this plant has been
widely used by the Samoan, Tahitian and Hawaiian peoples in the
prevention of kidney, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and
bladder disorders (Kamiya et al., 2005). It is rapidly increase as a popular
wellness drink in the world considered to be beneficial for many diseases.
Due to the popularity as herbal medicine, most people turn to consume
noni juice which is considered healthy and natural (Stadlbauer et al.,
2005). Many studies have broadly reported various potential health
benefits of noni fruit juice, including illnesses prevention and antioxidant
activities (Wang et al., 2009).
This essay will focus on the nutritional component of M. citrifolia juice
related to its potential health benefits for human such as antioxidant
activity, anti inflammatory, anti microbial, arteriosclerosis prevention, anti
cancer and anti diabetes.
Literature review
Description M. Citrifolia plant
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M. citrifolia included in genus Morinda (Rubiaceae), is an evergreen bush.

It has 310 meter tall, with abundant wide elliptical leaves. The main stalk
or peduncle bearing a group of small tubular white flowers and petioles
leave ring-like marks on the talks and the corolla is greenish white. The
fruits are thick and have an ovoid form with circular flanges and have a
soft and aqueous flesh. It is slightly wrinkly and ranges in colour from
green to yellow, to almost white at the ripe and mature stage. It is
covered with small reddish-brown buds containing the seeds. The ripe fruit
releases a strong butyric acid-like rancid smell. The pulp is juicy and a
cheesy flavor increasingly marked during maturation stage. When the fruit
is ripe, it has a light dull yellow or whitish containing gelatinous (ChanBlanco et al., 2006). The noni fruits are described in Figure 1.

Figure 1. M. citrifolia (noni) fruits (Pawlus et al., 2007)

Nutrients content of M. citrifolia juice and its beneficial
The noni fruit contains 90% of water and the main components of the dry
matter appear to be soluble solids, dietary fibers and proteins. Protein
contained in the fruit is high, representing 11.3% of the juice dry matter,
and the main amino acids are aspartic acid, glutamic acid and isoleucine.
Minerals account for 8.4% of the dry matter, and are mainly potassium,
sulphur, calcium and phosphorus. Vitamins have been reported in the
fruit, mainly ascorbic acid (24158 mg/100 g dry matter), and provitamin
A (Chan-Blanco et al., 2006).
The juice of noni fruit is believed has various biological activities which are
advantageous for human such as anti microbial, anti cancer, antioxidant,
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anti-inflammatory, analgesic and cardiovascular activity. Its beneficial

depends on the biochemical and micronutrients content of the noni fruit. It
has been reported the noni fruit has several active compounds like
phenolic compounds, particularly coumarins, flavonoids and iridoids
(Dussossoy et al., 2011). Other author has stated approximately 200
phytochemicals content of noni plant have been identified, some were
contained in the fruit such as anthraquinones, polysaccharides,
glycosides, lignans, triterpenoids (Chan-Blanco et al., 2006), fatty acids,
scopoletin, rutin, potassium and asperulosidic acid also alkaloid called
xeronine (Pawlus et al., 2007).
Flavonoids and antioxidant activity
Superoxide anion radicals (SAR) and hydroxyl radical are the most reactive free radicals, which are cause of formation of other ROS and lead to
different biological problems in human health (Subramaniam et al., 2003).
Previous research has been conducted to study about antioxidant activity
of noni juice. Radical scavenging activity was measured in vitro by the
tetrazolium nitroblue (TNB) assay on a commercial juice, by assessing the
potential capacity of the juice to protect cells or lipids from oxidative
alteration promoted by SAR. The antioxidant activity of noni juice was
shown to be higher than that of vitamin C, pycnogenol (PYC) and almost of
the same order as that of grape seed powder (Wang & Su, 2001).
Antioxidant might give prevention of human body from free radicals
exposure and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which gives the rise of
oxidative stress. The antioxidants, which can neutralize free radicals in
their role, give the protection of carcinogenicity, cardiovascular, and
neurodegenerative changes associated with aging (Ramamoorthy & Bono,
2007).
The presence of phenolic substances was reported as the important key of
antioxidant action in noni juice. Most of these phenolics are classified into
two groups of phenol carboxylic acids and flavonoids, the last being the
most significant. The ant oxidative compounds present in the sample may
exhibit different mechanisms of action from each other. Rutin and
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catechins, which are contained also in the juice of noni fruit, were
reported as free radicals neutralizer compounds. While, -coumaric was
seen to block the generation of free radical and was thus involved in
chain-breaking activity (Zin et al., 2006).
Iridoids and anti-inflammatory action
Pro-inflammatory agent, bradykinin and carrageenan were applied to
observed anti-inflammatory activity of noni juice, by inducing a locally
acute inflammatory response. It was shown that the oral application of a
noni juice quite rapidly inhibited the formation of rat paw edema which
may have resulted from interference with the B2 receptor-mediated
mechanism. Paw edema produced by carrageenan was partially inhibited
at low dose and increasingly minimized at high dose by the juice. These
effects were caused by the presence of iridoids contained in the noni fruit.
The specific mechanism that underlies the noni fruit juice effect against
both bradykinin-induced and carrageenan-induced edema was not
determined in this study, but it was suggested that there is a high
probability for therapeutic effectiveness of the noni juice against some
inflammatory (McKoy et al., 2002).
Polysaccharides and anti microbial activity
The anti microbial effect of noni may have been the fruit contains
relatively large amounts of sugars. It has been reported that noni inhibits
the growth of certain bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus morgaii, Helicobacter pylori,
Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella. It may be due to the presence
of phenolic compounds such as alizarin, acubin, scopoletin, L-asperuloside
and other anthraquinones. It has also been found that hexane extracts
and ethanol of noni juice have an antitubercular effect since they inhibit
the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by 8995% (Saludes et al.,
2002).
Other study was stated that juice from ripe fruit exhibited moderate
antibacterial properties against P. aeruginosa, M. pyrogenes and E. coli
and were also shown to have moderate antimicrobial action against S.
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thyposa, S. schottmuelleri, S. montevideo and Shygela paradys. The

activity of noni juice in contrary to those kinds of bacteria is thought due
to the presence of scopoletin. It also demonstrated the juice of noni could
inhibit bacteria H. pylori, which cause of stomach ulcer (Wang et al.,
2002).
Lignans and arteriosclerosis prevention
Previous research has demonstrated the effects of noni fruit on preventing
arteriosclerosis, the thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries
related to the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL). LDL particles are
sensitive to oxidation caused by free radicals and metal transition ions
such as copper. Oxidatively modified LDL particles can be efficiently
endocytosed by macrophages through scavenger receptors, then forming
foam cells, which are the symptom of arteriosclerosis. Methanol and ethyl
acetate extracts showed with the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance
method 88 and 96% inhibition, respectively, of copper-induced LDL
oxidation. Arteriosclerosis which is stimulated by the LDL oxidation was
prevented by the effect of different level of inhibitory activity of six
lignans compound, that are 3,3-bisdemethylpinoresinol, americanol A,
americanin A, americanoic acid A, morindolin, isoprincepin (Kamiya et al.,
2004).
Xeronine and cancer preventive activity
Wang and Su (2001) have investigated the cancer preventive effect of M.
citrifolia juice. The juice of M. citrifolia may possess a cancer preventive
effect at the initiation stage of chemical carcinogenesis, by preventing the
carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and antioxidant activity. It was started
by comparing antioxidant activity of noni juice to that of three antioxidant
sources, vitamin C, pycnogenol and grape seed powder. Superoxide Anion
Radicals (SAR) scavenging activity of noni juice have shown to be 2.8
times that of vitamin C, 1.4 fold that of pygnogenol and 1.1 times that of
grape seed powder. The investigation of cancer preventive have resulted
the reducing of dimethylbenz anthrancine DNA adducts level in heart,
5

lung, liver and kidney. Anti cancer activity is indicated by DNA adduct
formation, which is a critical initiation step in chemical carcinogenesis.
The mechanism is started by inhibition of phase I enzyme activity while
enhanching phase II enzyme and DNA repair enzyme activities. Then the
juice of M. citrifolia may block the redox cycling between the carcinogen
and their metabolites by interrupting the metabolic pathway, scavenging
oxygen free radicals and quenching the consequent lipid hydroperoxide.
It has also involved xeronine presence in the noni juice. The xeronine
system in noni juice has altered the protein features, as a result of that
regulated the key enzymes activity and protein in metabolic flowchart.
Redox sensitive signal transduction pathways and gene expression
changing have affected by xeronine system. The same author have
reported the juice of noni fruits has shown the higher antioxidant activity,
considered great potential of noni juice for protecting cells or lipids from
oxidative modification caused by SAR. Both of antioxidant properties and
carcinogen DNA adduct prevention may indicate that noni juice has a
potential of cancer prevention at the beginning stage of chemical
carcinogenesis (Wang and Su, 2001).
Other researcher team have studied the cytotoxic effect of noni juice. The
cytotoxicity of noni juice on cultured cancer could be seen by inducing
cancer cells necrosis. It has also been found that the effect of noni juice
could work synergistic with known anticancer drugs by inducing the death
of cancer cells and controlled its growth. This finding may open the
possibility of reducing the synthetic anticancer drug dose, improve the
tolerance of patient to the toxicity of the drugs and increase the immune
system (Wang et al., 2002).
Flavonoids (fermented juice) and hepatoprotective
Previous study was noted the presence of saponins, triterpenes, steroids,
flavonoids, and cardiac glycosides in the phytochemicals analysis of noni
juice. In the diabetic experimental animals study, twenty days after
treatment, there was a significant normalization of fasting blood sugar,
observed in diabetic animals treated with M. citrifolia and the diabetic
6

standard with reference hypoglycaemic drug, glibenclamide as compared

to diabetic untreated animals. In diabetic experimental animals, there was
a significant decrease in fasting glucose, this represented a decrease of
52.6%. The diabetic standard group showed the reduction in fasting blood
sugar from 250 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl. In the last 10 days of the treatment
period, diabetic experimental and diabetic standard group animals
exhibited a significant increase in body mass of 3.0 and 8.0 percent,
respectively, whereas the diabetic untreated animals showed a decrease
in body mass, (16.3 g, 8.17%) after 20 days observation period. The
reduction of glucose levels were considered either by promoting insulin
secretion or by increasing insulin receptor sensitivity. Diabetic rats treated
with noni juice had reduced the hepatocyte fatty degeneration when
compared to diabetic untreated animals. This suggests a possible
hepatoprotective property of the noni juice (Nayak et al., 2011).
Wang et al. (2008) have hypothesized that the hepatoprotective activity of
M. citrifolia is due to its possible antioxidant properties of its flavonoid
constituents. The hypoglycaemic activity, exhibited by the fermented juice
of noni fruit, may be attributed to the presence of triterpenes and
saponins. Other researchers demonstrated the presence of several
bioactive compounds like flavonoids, triterpenoids, triterpenes, and
saponins in M. citrifolia. It has been suggested that saponins may
significantly inhibit gastric emptying by promoting secretion of glucagon
like peptides-1 (GLP-1) or by inhibiting its degradation (Nayak et al.,
2011). It may have a glucagon decreasing effect, lowering blood glucose
and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas (Norberg et al., 2004)
and it could be due to decreased degradation of glucagon like peptides.
Glibenclamide exerts hypoglycemic action by stimulation of insulin
secretion and inhibition of glucagon release. The remaining intact
pancreatic cells are stimulated by M. citrifolia or glibenclamide, and the
serum insulin level is increased, then the blood glucose is decreased.
Rutin is a flavonoid found in significant quantities in the noni fruit, and it is
postulated that the rutinose residues may act as a substance that
promotes secretion, which increase insulin secretion by a mechanism
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related to that of sugar sucrose. Triterpenoids have also been indicated as

possible therapeutic agents that can be beneficial in the management of
diabetes mellitus, as they have been shown to be effective in improving
symptoms of glycosuria and blood sugar in alloxan-induced mice (Chen et
al., 2008).
The fermented fruit juice of M. citrifolia seems to be useful in controlling
blood sugar and hepatic injury. Purification of noni fruit juice and
identification of the active principle may yield a good hypoglycaemic and
hepatoprotective drug. M. citrofolia significantly improved the fasting
glucose status of diabetic animals over the period of twenty days. There
was also an observed increase in body mass. It can be presumed that M.
citrofolia either potentiates the action of insulin directly or that it
increases peripheral tissue sensitivity to the storage hormone. It may
have the capacity to improve fat metabolism and reduce fatty
accumulation in the liver (Nayak et al., 2011).

Table 1. Compounds contained in M. citrifolia juice and its health beneficial

Compound
Flavonoids

Health beneficial
Antioxidant effect

References
Wang et al., 2002;
Subramaniam et al.,
2003;
Wang & Su, 2001;
Ramamoorthy & Bono,
2007

Iridoids
Polysaccharides

Anti inflammation
Anti microbial activity

Zin et al., 2006

McKoy et al., 2002
Saludes et al., 2002;

Lignans

Arteriosclerosis

Wang et al., 2002

Kamiya et al., 2004

Xeronin

prevention
Cancer prevention

Wang and Su, 2001;

Flavonoids

Anti diabetes

Wang et al., 2002

Nayak et al., 2011;
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(fermented)

(hepatoprotective)

Wang et al., 2008;

Chen et al., 2008

Contrary about hepatotoxicity

Stadlbauer et al. (2005) have represented two cases of hepatitis related to
hepatotoxicity of M. citrifolia consumption. The cases are fulminant liver
failure requiring emergency liver transplantation and liver function. The
result of observation shown that the patient recovered spontaneously
after cessation of noni juice. The most likely hepatotoxic components are
anthraquinones such as nordamnacanthal, moridone, and rubiadin.
Anthraquinones in other herbal remedies have been reported to cause
hepatotoxicity. A possible mechanism of hepatotoxicity of anthraquinones
has been described for rhein (4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic
acid) which produces oxygen-derived free radicals by redox cycling
resulting in depletion of intracellular reduced glutathione, decreased
mitochondrial membrane potential, initiation of lipid peroxidation, and cell
death. People have been warned of potentially serious hepatotoxicity of
noni juice (Stadlbauer et al., 2005). Other explanation of different author
has noticed that juice processing is a very critical step for exclusion of
potentially genotoxic anthraquinones. Seed and skin of ripe fruit
containing more anthraquinones could be effectively removed during the
preparation. Additionally, the eyes on the noni fruits
contain approximately 100 times of anthraquinones than fruit puree (Deng
et al, 2010).
West et al. (2006a) have also argued report which stated about the
potential of noni juice as hepatotoxicity and to be the cause of two cases
acute hepatitis. The measurements most applicable to the evaluation of
liver function and hepatocellular disease. They have also published the
report of noni juice safety review which strengthen their statement by
investigating the effect of noni juice related to toxicity, genotoxicity,
allergenicity and clinical study. It is concluded from this study that the

juice of noni fruit is as safe as other common fruit juices (West et al.,
2006b).
Conclusion
Noni juice consist of many advantageous micronutrients which have
different effect on human health such as flavonoids which important as an
antioxidant, iridoids for anti inflammatory, polysaccharides content
essential for anti microbial, flavonoids and xeronine for anti cancer and
flavonoids of fermented juice for hepatoprotective. Provided that
processed in the right way and the dose consumed are not spill over, noni
juice is safe for consumption and bring the better health for human.
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extract noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) with maltodextrin as a subcoating
material. Journal Medical Science 7(5). 762-768
Chan-Blanco, Y., Vaillant, F., Perez, A. M., Reynes, M., Brillouet, J. & Brat, P.
(2006). The noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.): a review of agricultural
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Chen, J., Li, W. L., Wu, J. L, Ren, B. R. & Zhang, H. Q. (2008).
Hypoglycaemic effects of a sesquiterpene glycoside isolated from leaves
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Giaimis, J. & Michel, A. (2011). Characterization, anti-oxidative and anti-

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of Etnhnopharmacology 133. 108-115
Kamiya, K., Tanaka, Y., Endang, H., Umar, M. & Satake, T. (2004). Chemical
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investigation of the anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous extract
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Nayak, B. S., Marshall, J. R., Isitor, G. & Adogwa, A. (2011). Hypoglycemic
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