Morinda Citrifolia, A Natural Remedy

A Summary by Mirna Sakina


It is commonly known as Great morinda, Indian mulberry, Beach mulberry, Tahitian Noni, or since recently: Noni (from Hawaiian), Nono (in Tahitian), Mengkudu (from Malay), Nonu (in Tongan), and Ach (in Hindi), is a shrub or small tree in the family Rubiaceae. Morinda citrifolia is native to Southeast Asia but has been extensively spread by man throughout India and into the Pacific islands as far as the islands of French Polynesia, of which Tahiti is the most prominent. It can also be found in parts of the West Indies.

The fruit is one such that more than suffices the requirements of a Nutritional Supplement of great advantage. Though in the ancient cultures this fruit was widely used for its health restorative properties, over the years us popularity diminished due to the unpleasant smell that eminates from the ripened fruit and so humanity lost for a while the amazing gift of Health and Well Being that Nature had endowed it with in the form of Morinda citrifolia.


Here are some researches and findings by the scientists:

1. Dr. Ralph Heinicke of the Pineapple Research Institute in the United States of America,
He was the first who isolated a crystalline material from this fruit Morinda citrifolia that is responsible for the synthesis of Xeronine, which plays the sterling role of helping the Human body properly assimilate Proteins and thus regulate the structure and function of the various Cells of our body. Healthy cells build healthy tissues which in turn build healthy organs and healthy organs contribute to healthy body systems and so helping the individual lead a life of Health and Well Being.

In 1993 Dr. Ralph Heinicke in his research on Morinda citrifolia isolated another component found to be present in Morinda citrifolia — Damnacanthal. This Damnacanthal was shown to introduce normal cell growth in pre-cancer cells.

2. Dr. Mona Harrison MD, formerly assistant dean of Boston University School of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer D.C.General Hospital
She found out that Morinda citrifolia enhanced the function of the Thyroid and the Thymus glands, thus helping the body fight off infections and other problems of the Immune System. She believes that the frequency modulations in the body’s Energy, brought about by Morinda citrifolia, helps to fight depression and also acts as a true Adaptogen - i.e. It enhances the body’s Self Healing Mechanism to restore normalcy rapidly. Further more scientific studies from the 1960’s to 1980’s revealed the Analgesic qualities of Morinda citrifolia and proved that Morinda citrifolia helped the Circulatory, Digestive and Respiratory systems of the body, in addition to improving the texture of the Skin and the growth and repair of Hair.

3. In 1994, Mr. A. Hirazumi, a scientific researcher from the University of Hawaii
Based on the finding of Dr. Ralph Heinicke in 1993, he established the Anti-Cancer activity of Morinda citrifolia on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis Lung Carcinomo Syngenic Mice. Later on a team of Japanese researchers studied the induction of normal phenotypes in RSA-Transformed cells by Damnacanthal from Morinda citrifolia. These initial studies indicate the potential of Anti-Cancer activity of the Morinda citrifolia fruit on laboratory animals and the possible mechanism of its action. Pioneering research work on Morinda citrifolia is being done at the University of Hawaii, Keio University and Osaka University in Japan, The University of Antwerp in Belgium and Rutgers University - NJ. U.S.A.. to name a few. In fact, research on Morinda citrifolia is presently being carried out in over 40 Universities around the globe.

4. It is interesting to note what Dr. Scott Gerson MD has to write about Morinda citrifolia and India:
“Several years ago, I was researching material for a book on Medicinal Plants of India and became interested in a family of plants known as Rubiaceae. Of particular interest was a plant known in Sanskrit as Ach which was attributed special properties by ancient physicians. The fruit of this Ach plant or as we now know it as Morinda Citrifolia has a rich history in India, where it has been used for tens of centuries in the system of medicine known as Avurveda. This holistic medical tradition was established in the north western part of India by people called Aryans who were reputed to be a rather cosmic civilisation. Morinda Citrifolia was especially esteemed by the ancient Aryan physicians because it protected the skin from becoming dry and cracked from the sun. My investigations of the published scientific literature on Morinda Citrifolia yielded more than 100 articles pertaining to this medicinal plant.”

This fruit finds place in our ancient medicinal texts or Ayurveda and Siddha and in Tamil Nadu at one time, this tree was a must to grow in even Temple along with the Tulsi and Bail trees, for it was believed that the Goddess of all Gods made her abode in it.

Morinda citrifoia widespread success is based upon the theory that it acts as an Adaptogen. In essence, Morinda citrifolia contain a natural food supplement that helps “Sick” cells return to normal. If the body is releasing too much or too little of natural substances, the result is weakened or sick cells. An Adaptogen helps regulate the amount of the substance the body releases.”

It is important however to remember that the adaptogens from Morinda citrifolia are food supplements and not a medicine or drug.

However, as seen from many of the testimonials, Morinda citrifolia can help medication to be more effective with smaller doses, thus decreasing the normal side effects from certain medications.”

Continuous research on Morinda citrifolia has established, that Morinda citrifolia in addition to being rich in the content of proxeronine which is used by the body to strengthen and revitalise its cells, is also rich in Vitamin A, B, B2, B6, B12, C & H, Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Folk Acid. Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper and other minerals like Chromium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Sodium, Potassium, Carbohydrates like Fructose and Glucose and also has the distinction of being the only known Natural Health Product to contain more than 150 isolated Neutraceuticals.

In China, Samoa, Japan, and Tahiti, various parts of the tree (leaves, flowers, fruits, bark, roots) serve as tonics and to contain fever, to treat eye and skin problems, gum and throat problems as well as constipation, stomach pain, or respiratory difficulties. In Malaysia, heated noni leaves applied to the chest are believed to relieve coughs, nausea, or colic.

The noni fruit is taken, in Indochina especially, for asthma, lumbago, and dysentery. As for external uses, unripe fruits can be pounded, then mixed with salt and applied to cut or broken bones. In Hawaii, ripe fruits are applied to draw out pus from an infected boil. The green fruit, leaves and the root/rhizome have traditionally been used to treat menstrual cramps and irregularities, among other symptoms, while the root has also been used to treat urinary difficulties.


Sources: WorldNoni.Org, Wikipedia