Morinda citrifolia/Noni fruit with its scientific name Morinda citrifolia is the fruit that belongs to the family of coffee plants. It is an evergreen-like woody shrub that bears the fruit several inches in diameter. The small white flowers grow in clusters which then turn into lobe-shaped fruit. Noni fruit has small bumps and its color ranges from green to pale yellow. The matured or ripened Noni fruit has a pungent smell and distinctive taste. Although noni fruit has both a distinctive taste and pungent smell when ripe, it has a long list of health benefits. It was used by traditional healers for centuries. Today, the leaves, fruit, stems, roots, and bark are used as medicine for various ailments.

Noni Fruit (Morinda citrifolia) colloquially known simply as Awl Tree, Brimstone Tree, Beach Mulberry, Canary Wood, East Indian Mulberry, Cheese Fruit, Grand Morinda, Forbidden Fruit, and Hog Apple. It is a glabrous shrub/small tree believed to be native to Southeast Asia and Tropical Northern Australia. Noni fruit belongs to the Rubiaceae family and genus Morinda L. The tree grows from 3-10 m tall. The fruit of Noni has a distinctive taste and pungent flavor. Each fruit possesses black and albuminous seeds. The fruit is green when young that turns yellowish-green when ripened. The plant is suitable to warm, humid, and seasonal climates & infertile, acidic, alkaline soils.

In Pacific Islands, it is considered an advantageous foodstuff. Mostly it is used as a beverage that helps to enhance body functions and overall health. It is also called “Aspirin of the Ancient”.  In Polynesia, India, and China, it was cultivated for 2000 years. The Cook Islands have pollution-free volcanic soil which is considered to be organic in horticulture.

History

It is distributed from Asia, the Pacific to the Caribbean region. It is naturalized and cultivated in tropical regions. Noni fruit was distributed over the past 2000 years in the whole world. Now, it is cultivated in tropical forests all over the world. Noni fruit grown in the Tahitian ring of Islands in the South Pacific has the best quality.

Beyond 15 years ago, Utah titled John Wadsworth, a food researcher acquires a bundle in Tahiti which possesses a sample of fruit. John was not known to the fruit named Noni.

Simultaneously, John was searching for natural foods or components so that he could discover the new nutritional supplement. With his interest, he started to examine the noni fruit. The findings he made assisted the information from Dr. Ralph Heinicke who is a scientist that worked in Hawaii and created various findings with the concern of the Noni plant. Tranquilly, John felt that he was on to something.

Plant

Noni fruit is an erect, glabrous tree that is crooked with a conical crown. The tree grows up to 3-10 m in height with pinnately veined leaves. The tree has greyish or yellowish to brown, fissured, and glabrous bark. The leaves are simple, glabrous, glossy green, elliptic-oblong; 20-45 cm long, and 7-25 cm wide. The bisexual flowers are white, corolla funnel-shaped, ovoid to globose heads, and about 1.5 cm long. After it appears, they mature into a fruit of ovoid, pyramidal drupes, which is about 3-10 cm long and 3-7 cm across. Each fruit possesses two black and albuminous seeds.

Nutritional Value

100 grams of Noni fruit contains 95.67 water, 15.3 calories, 0.43 g protein, 0.1 g total fat, 0.54 g ash, 3.4 g carbohydrate, 0.2 g total dietary fiber, 1.49 g sugars, 0.1 g sucrose, 0.32 g fructose, 0.1 g lactose, 0.1 g maltose, and 1.17 g dextrose. It provides 37.39% of Vitamin C, 2.62%  of carbohydrates, and 1.01% of calcium.

Health Benefits of Noni fruit

Noni fruit is able to cure various health ailments. It assists in recovering diabetic sufferers. It helps to prevent cancer, liver problems, relax muscles and also provide relief from diabetes and gout. It possesses antipsychotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to maintain skin health, promote the level of energy, speed up the healing process and enhance immunity power. It possesses impressive amounts of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. It has antioxidants such as quercetin, pinoresinol, vanillin, kaempferol, proxeronine, isoscopoletin, scopoletin, and bisdemethylpinoresinol.

1. Antioxidant properties

Noni fruit possesses anti-oxidant properties that help to neutralize the oxygen free radicals and their effects. The research shows that the Noni fruit helps to improve radicals scavenging abilities and provide relief from oxidative stress and its damage. (1)

2. Treats cancer

Noni fruit possesses anti-cancer properties that help to prevent the cancers such as liver cancer, lung cancer, and renal cancer. It helps to reduce the chances of cancer because it blocks the carcinogen DNA binding and prevents the formation of adducts. Additionally, evidence shows the efficiency of Noni fruit against the growth of tumors in mammary glands by reducing the tumors. (2) (3) (4)

3. Prevent gout

Noni fruit helps to extend the therapeutic effects that help to treat gout. Noni fruit helps to cure the disease’s features to the inhibitory actions on xanthine oxidase enzymes that involve in gout and its problems. The research shows that the Noni fruit has a curative effect which is used for thousands of years. (5)

4. Strengthen muscles

Noni fruit has relaxing properties in the muscles. The research shows that Noni fruit possesses an antispasmodic property that helps to block the voltage-dependent calcium channels and intracellular calcium secretion. It helps to suppress the spasms of muscles and calms the discomfort and pain. (6)

5. Cardiovascular ailments

Noni fruit has to dilate properties due to which it comforts the muscle cells in the cell walls that result in the proper blood flow in arteries. Its vasodilator properties regulate blood pressure and help to maintain heart health. Additionally, Noni fruit has positive effects to maintain cardiac health. It helps to reduce the level of bad cholesterols, homocysteine, total cholesterol levels, and raise good cholesterol levels in the body. (7) (8)

6. Fatigue

Traditionally, Noni fruit was used by Polynesians to encounter weakness and promote the level of energy. The research and study show that Noni fruit possesses ergogenic properties that help to promote the elasticity, tolerance, and physical activities of the body. (9)

7. Protects liver

Noni fruit helps to protect the liver diseases. The study shows that Noni fruit has hepatoprotective properties on the liver that helps to protect the organ from exposure to harmful chemicals and defend the major illness such as liver damage. (10)

8. Anti-psychotic agent

Noni fruit is used to treat various ailments and disorders associated with the central nervous system. The studies show that it possesses anti-psychotic properties which help to cure psychiatric disorders. Moreover, it possesses therapeutic properties that help to cure brain damage. It helps to prevent cerebral ischemic stress without affecting the good enzymes. (11) (12)

9. Reduce arthritis

Noni fruit has anti-inflammatory properties which provide relief from arthritis. The evidence shows that analgesic properties help to eradicate the pain, reduce the destruction of joints such as arthritis. (13)

10. Impairs memory

Noni fruit has protective properties that help to cure memory problems. The research shows that the intake of Noni fruit enhances cerebral blood flow and enhances the functions of memory. (14)

11. Treat diabetes

The research shows that Noni fruit is an aid that helps to reduce type 2 diabetes. The evidence shows that Noni fruit helps to lower the glycosylated hemoglobin level, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum triglycerides in the body. Additionally, it enhances the sensitivity of insulin and glucose uptake. (15) (16)

12. Skin health

Noni fruit helps to maintain the skin and beauty health. The studies show that it has anthraquinones which is a protective chemical constituent that has stimulating properties and prevents wrinkles. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties help to cure the skin ailments such as burns, acne, allergic reactions, and hives. Noni fruit possesses proxeronine that assists the functions of cell membranes and normalizes the abnormal cells. It helps to maintain healthy and young skin. (17) (18) (19)

13. Gastric problems

Noni fruit has a vital impact on the process of gastric emptying; the food enters the duodenum and exits the stomach. The study shows that Noni fruit has phytonutrients that slow down the digestion process and result in the slow discharge of sugars in the bloodstream. The study shows that Noni fruit promotes the release of cholecystokinin, digestive enzymes without changing the urine volume, intestinal transit, and feces. (20)

14. Heal wounds

Noni fruit helps to speed up the healing process of wounds. The research shows that Noni fruit has wound healing properties that help in the collagen functions, the weight of granulation tissues, and protein content. Noni helps to reduce the level of blood sugar and is correlated to the stimulation of the healing process of wounds. (21)

15. Immunity power

Noni fruit enhances immunity power. It helps to enhance the fighting abilities to counteract health ailments. It promotes the functions of white blood cells that have a protective effect. It possesses antimutagenic, anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-histamine properties that results in an immunity power of the body. (22) (23)

Traditional uses

• Traditionally Noni was used to heal deep cuts, broken bones, bruises, wounds, and sores.
• Noni is used to treating painful inflammation such as arthritis.
• In Vietnam, fruit is regarded as stomachic, emmenagogue, and laxative.
• It is useful for metrorrhagia, dropsy, leucorrhoea, asthma, and diabetes.
• The leaves are believed to possess emmenagogue and deobstruent properties.
• Leaves are useful for dysentery, fevers, diarrhea, dizziness, and headache.
• The roots help to treat lumbago, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and body ache.
• In India, the roots are believed to possess purgative, febrifuge, and cathartic properties.
• In Bombay, the leaves help to heal ulcers and wounds.
• The decoction made with leaves and mustard is an aid for infantile diarrhea.
• The syrup made from fruit juice is used as a gargle that provides relief from sore throat.
• In Malaysia, the bark decoction is used for ague.
• The leaves are heated and applied to the abdomen or chest for coughs, enlarged spleen, colic, nausea, and fever.
• The ripe fruit is used as a treatment for sapraemia and leucorrhoea.
• The fruit is useful to eradicate head lice.
• The fruit is used internally for swollen spleen, beriberi, liver diseases, coughs, and hemorrhage.
• The leaves, bark, flowers, roots, and fruits are a tonic to alleviate fever, eye, skin, gum, and throat ailments along with stomach pain, constipation, and respiratory problems.
• The plant is useful to treat malaria, infections of the urinary tract, stings, and hernia.
• The juice of immature fruit with coconut oil is applied for the sores and scabs in the mouth and toothache.
• The extract of ripe fruit is used to eradicate intestinal worms and used as a poultice on wounds, carbuncles, boils, and pimples.
• Fruit juice is used to treat loss of appetite, heart discomfort, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
• The juice of fruit juice is also useful to rectify intoxication from kava.
• The oil extracted from the fruit is also used to treat stomach ulcers.
• Dried leaves, as well as fruits, are useful to make teas and herbal infusions.
• The poultice made from leaves and fruit is useful for bruising, sprains, and rheumatism.
• The extracts of the leaves, bark, and fruit are used to treat hypertension, tuberculosis, and diabetes.
• The root bark and stem are useful for treating jaundice.
• The poultice made from leaves is used as a body wrap around fractured bones.
• The tea made from leaves is used as an analgesic agent.
• In Vietnam, roots are useful for treating tetanus and stiffness that also encounter arterial tension.
• In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots are useful for impotence, menstrual disorders, and abdominal pain.
• The fruit juice is used to treat diabetes, muscle aches, high blood pressure, headaches, menstrual difficulties, AIDS, heart disease, cancers, sprains, gastric ulcers, depression, poor digestion, senility, atherosclerosis, drug addiction, and circulation problems.
• The leaves are used to treat joint swelling, rheumatic aches, stomachache, dysentery, and filariasis.
• The bark is an aid for childbirth.
• Noni is applied as a moisturizer that helps to reduce the signs of aging.
• In Hawaii, Japan, and China, the parts of the fruit are used to treat fevers.
• In Malaysia, the juices of fruits help to monitor the menstrual flow and comfort the urinary problems.
• In Tahiti, it is used to treat fish poisoning, stings of reef fish, tonsillitis, burns, abdominal swelling, and ranula.
• The infusion made the grated roots is sometimes applied to the top of the head in order to cure the stings of stonefish.
• The poultice made from leaves is useful for rheumatism.
• The fruit also treats ringworm.
• The concoction made from unripe fruits helps to treat blood in a stool.
• The oil extracted from the Noni seed can reduce acne and assist in the retention of moisture.

How to Eat

• In Northern Australia and Pacific Asia, the fruits are consumed raw or cooked.
• In Indonesia, Young fruits are cooked as lalab and ripe fruits are used to make rujak or consumed with sambal.
• The mashed ripe fruits are drunk with sugar or syrup.
• In Myanmar and Indo-China, ripe fruit is consumed with salt.
• In India, green fruits are used in curries.
• In Thailand, Hainan Island, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and China the young leaves are consumed as vegetables.
• The matured leaves are used as a meat or fish wrapper before cooking.
• In Kiribati, the bud is consumed as food.
• In Vietnam, young leaves are added to eel soup.
• The seeds are roasted for consumption.
• The leaves are a rich source of vitamin A.

Precautions 

• It could lead to hyperkalemia as it is high in the content of potassium.
• The one with kidney problems should not use Noni fruit as it is in potassium.
• The liver patients should not use the Noni fruit.
• The high intake of Noni fruit results in a throbbing headache.
• Diabetic patients should not use Noni fruit because it has a high content of sugar and glucose.
• Some people might experience a skin rash, problems in breathing, or itchiness with its use.
• Patients with renal disease should be away from Noni fruit.
• The minor side effects of Noni fruit include belching, headache, vomiting, nausea, gas, diarrhea, pimples, and mild rash.
• The intake of Noni fruit in excessive amounts results in liver damage.
• One should consult the healthcare provider before using the supplements of Noni.

How to make Noni juice

Some steps to prepare a Noni juice which is packed with nutritional vitamins:

1. Take a few young Noni fruit.
2. Then clean it.
3. Then blender the fruit by adding honey, ice, or milk.

How to drink Noni juice:

Drink Noni juice before thirty minutes of breakfast. Noni juice provides health advantages such as:

• Cleans the deposition of blood fat
• Cures heart stroke
• Avoid heart attack
• Cure coronary artery ailments
• Maintains the assimilation of fat
• Lowers hypertension

References

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