Noni: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Nono, dog apple
Scientific name(s)
Morinda citrifolia
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Anthraquinones
Vitamin C
Potassium
Carotenoids
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Osteoarthritis ✪✪✪✪✪
An open pilot study by Wang et al. (2011) examined the effects of Tahitian noni juice (Tahitian Noni Juice, TNJ) in 82 patients aged 40 to 75 suffering from knee or hip osteoarthritis. Participants consumed 88 mL of TNJ per day for 90 days, without any other medicinal treatment for arthritis. Results showed significant improvements in mobility, hand and arm functions, daily tasks, social activity, arthritic pain, mood, and strain.
Posologie
Orally: fruit
88 mL
concentrated juice
Cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
Studies on Noni reveal interesting properties concerning cancer. A Phase I clinical study conducted on patients with advanced cancers identified optimal doses of noni juice for improving quality of life, notably reducing fatigue and pain. Although this study did not show measurable tumor regression, it noted an exceptional case of non-progression of gastric cancer over a 36-month period. Noni's anticancer effects seem linked to mechanisms such as the inhibition of angiogenesis—the process by which new vascular structures form to nourish tumors. This inhibition results from the action of specific compounds, such as damnacanthal, capable of inducing tumor capillary degeneration and stimulating cancer cell apoptosis.
Posologie
Orally: fruit
2 - 14 g
dry extract
Properties
Anticancer
Noni juice presents anticancer potential through various mechanisms, including its anti-angiogenic activity, essential in limiting tumor growth. Angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed to supply tissues, is often hijacked by tumors to ensure their growth and survival. Laboratory research suggests that noni extracts, particularly those from the fruit and leaves, inhibit this process by reducing blood vessel formation in tumor tissues. Moreover, damnacanthal, an anthraquinone isolated from noni roots, plays a key role in altering the intracellular signaling pathways of cancerous cells, leading to capillary degeneration and tumor cell death. Furthermore, polysaccharides enriched in noni juice activate the host's immune system, increasing cytokine production and stimulating macrophages, reinforcing defenses against tumors. Finally, noni acts on the prevention of carcinogenesis by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, promoting their apoptosis, and reducing DNA adduct formation, lesions that promote cancerous mutations. These combined effects make noni a promising complement in the fight against cancers.
Usages associés
Hypotensive
The hypotensive properties of noni have been observed in preliminary research. Active compounds in noni, such as scopoletine, act by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme, a key mechanism in regulating blood pressure. A clinical study in healthy adults revealed that a consumption of 90 mL of noni juice in three distinct doses led to an average reduction of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 5 mmHg in diastolic pressure. These results suggest a potential benefit for managing mild hypertension, but clinical trials on higher-risk populations would be necessary to validate these effects.
Anti-inflammatory
Noni possesses well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxygenase enzymes, responsible for producing pro-inflammatory mediators. Noni extracts also reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines in various experimental models. In patients with osteoarthritis, the consumption of noni juice has been associated with a significant decrease in levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult: 500 mg (dry extract)
Most available research examining the clinical effects of noni juice has used the brand Tahitian Noni Juice (Tahitian Noni International). Tahitian Noni Juice is composed of 89% noni puree in grapefruit and blackberry juices. Dehydrated noni fruit has also been used in capsules containing 500 mg. A noni extract used in a study contained 1,716 mcg of scopoletin per 150 mg of dried noni fruit extract. A 5-gram dried noni fruit is equivalent to 150 mg of extract.
Precautions
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Insufficient data.
Contraindications
Pregnant women: prohibited
Potential teratogenic effects of noni. 0a
