Morinda morindoides: A systematic review of its therapeutic activities

Abstract

BackgroundMorinda morindoides has been used as herbal medicine in Africa for a long time. It possesses potential therapeutic activities such as antiplasmodial, antispermatogenic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-diarrheal effects, stomach pain and constipation reliefs. However, there has been no literature summarising its potential effects. This study therefore aims to systematically review the therapeutic activities of this medicinal plant as well as its pharmacological activities. Materials and methodsNine databases were selected to search suitable articles namely MEDLINE (PubMed), ISI, Scopus, Google Scholar, Global Health Library (GHL), Virtual Health Library (VHL), POPLINE, New York Academy of Medicine gray Literature Report (NYAM), and System for Information on gray Literature in Europe (SIGLE). Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included 54 papers for the systemic review. ResultsBriefly, in vitro studies showed that M. morindoides possessed anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-amoebic, anti-larval, spasmolytic, anti-oxidant effects and complementary modulation. Moreover, those effects were emphasized in animal studies. The plant also showed positive activities on body metabolism studied on animal models such as hypotensive, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic actions. M. morindoides showed its safety on animals’ organs as it did not dramatically change in blood parameters or injure cardiac tissues. However, there were many inconsistent results from various studies in terms of its benefits while its extracts showed a wide range of safety on different cells. ConclusionM. morindoides has proven to have potential therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo models. Therefore, higher quality studies on human are necessary to be conducted, which can provide stronger evidence to confirm M. morindoides’s effects.