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
Scoring 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 years with knee or hip osteoarthritis. The participants consumed 88 mL of TNJ per day for 90 days, with no other drug treatment for arthritis. The results showed significant improvements in mobility, hand and arm function, daily tasks, social activity, arthritic pain, mood and tension.
Posologie
Oral: fruit
88 mL
concentrated juice
Cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
Studies on noni reveal interesting properties regarding cancer. A Phase I clinical study carried out in patients with advanced cancers identified optimal doses of noni juice to improve quality of life, notably reducing fatigue and pain. Although this study did not show measurable tumor regression, it noted an exceptional case of no progression of gastric cancer over a 36-month period. The anticancer effects of noni appear to be related to mechanisms such as inhibition of angiogenesis — the process by which new vascular structures form to feed tumors. This inhibition results from the action of specific compounds, such as damnacanthal, which can induce degeneration of tumor capillaries and stimulate apoptosis of cancer cells.
Posologie
Oral: fruit
2 - 14 g
dry extract
Properties
Anticancer
Noni juice shows potential anticancer effects through various mechanisms, notably its anti-angiogenic activity, which is essential for limiting tumor growth. Angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels form to supply tissues, is often hijacked by tumors to ensure their growth and survival. Laboratory research suggests that noni extracts, particularly those derived 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 by altering intracellular signaling pathways in cancer cells, leading to capillary degeneration and tumor cell death. In addition, the polysaccharides abundant in noni juice activate the host immune system, increasing cytokine production and stimulating macrophages, which strengthens defenses against tumors. Finally, noni acts in cancer prevention by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, promoting their apoptosis, and reducing the formation of DNA adducts, lesions that promote cancerous mutations. These combined effects make noni a promising adjunct in the fight against cancer.
Usages associés
Antihypertensive
The hypotensive properties of noni have been observed in preliminary research. The active compounds in noni, such as scopoletin, act by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a key mechanism in the regulation of blood pressure. A clinical study in healthy adults found that consumption of 90 mL of noni juice divided into three separate doses resulted in an average reduction of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 5 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. These results suggest a potential benefit for the management of mild hypertension, but clinical trials in higher-risk populations would be needed to validate these effects.
Anti-inflammatory
Noni has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to its ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxygenase enzymes, which are responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Noni extracts also reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines in various experimental models. In patients with osteoarthritis, consumption of noni juice has been associated with a significant decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, a marker of systemic inflammation.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adult: 500 mg (dry extract)
Most of the available research examining the clinical effects of noni juice has used the brand Tahitian Noni Juice (Tahitian Noni International). Tahitian Noni Juice is made of 89% puréed noni in grapefruit and blackberry juices. Dehydrated noni fruit has also been used in capsules containing 500 mg. A noni extract used in one 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: avoid
Insufficient data.
Contraindications
Pregnancy: contraindicated
Potential teratogenic effects of noni.
