Noni Leaf Research Articles

Wound healing effects of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaves: a mechanism involving its PDGF/A2A receptor ligand binding and promotion of wound closure

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae) commonly known as noni, has been used in Polynesia by traditional healers for the treatment of cuts, bruises and wounds. Our objective was to investigate the wound-healing mechanisms of the noni leaf. The investigations of its wound-healing mechanisms were carried out using fresh noni leaf juice (NLJ), noni leaf ethanol extract (NLEE) and its methanol (MFEE) and hexane (HFEE) fractions on the PDGF and A(2A) receptors in vitro and topically in mice. Fresh noni leaf juice showed significant affinity to PDGF receptors, and displayed 166% binding inhibition of the ligand binding to its receptors, while at the same concentration, it only had 7% inhibition of the ligand binding to the A(2A) receptors. NLEE, HFEE and MFEE showed significant affinity to A(2A) receptors, concentration dependently, with IC(50) values of 34.1, 42.9 and 86.7 μg/mL, respectively. However, MFEE significantly increased wound closure and reduced the half closure time in mice with a CT(50) of 5.4 ± 0.2 days compared with control (p < 0.05). These results suggest that noni leaf significantly accelerated wound healing in mice via its ligand binding to the PDGF and A(2A) receptors as its probable mechanisms of wound-healing and also support its traditional usage for wound-healing in Polynesia.

Antioxidant and toxicity tests of roasted noni (Morinda citrifolia) leaf infusion

SummaryThe antioxidant properties and toxicity profile of roasted noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaf infusion were evaluated. The 2,2‐diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was greater than green tea infusion (81.6 ± 0.9% vs. 57.5 ± 1.8%, P &lt; 0.001). The mean quercetin and kaempferol contents of roasted noni leaf infusion, as prepared by the consumer, were 0.24 ± 0.01 and 0.14 ± 0.01 μg mL−1, respectively. Tannic acid content was 10 ± 1 μg mL−1. The infusion was non‐mutagenic in the reverse mutation test in Salmonella typhimurium and did not induce primary DNA damage in E. coli PQ37. Further, no significant primary DNA damage was induced by 5,15‐dimethylmorindol, which was the only detectable anthraquinone in noni leaves. The infusion was not cytotoxic in the 24 h brine shrimp toxicity test (LC50 &gt; 1 mg mL−1), nor was there any evidence of acute oral toxicity from the freeze–dried infusion in Sprague–Dawley rats (LD50 &gt; 2000 mg kg−1 b.w.).

In Vitro antigenotoxic activities of the aqueous extract from Thai Noni's Leaves (ANL) against chemotherapeutic agent, mitomycin C

The leaves from Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.; Rubiaceae) has been increasing popular usage as food supplement and therapeutic medicine especially in form of tea, powder and serum. Their therapeutic effects have been known for various treatments such as malaria, diabetes and topical inflammation [1]. In our previous study, we found that Noni fruit juice has some antigenotoxic effects as demonstrated by significantly decrease in the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) level induced by mitomycin C (MMC) (p&lt;0.05) [2]. This study was focused on antigenotoxic activities of the aqueous extract from Thai Noni's leaves (ANL) against a chemotherapeutic drug, MMC. Chromosomal aberration and SCE assays in human lymphocytes in vitro were conducted. The method was performed by pretreatment of ANL at concentrations of 0.8–25mg/ml for 2h followed by MMC at 3µg/ml for 2h. Our result showed that ANL pretreatment could not significantly reduce chromosomal aberration and SCE levels induced by MMC (p&lt;0.05). Combination usage of ANL and MMC also leads to cell cycle toxicity as shown by significantly decrease in mitotic index and proliferation index (compared to that of the negative control). We concluded that ANL pretreatment followed by MMC did not show antigenotoxic potential. However, other form of Noni's leaf extract such as ethanolic extract containing high antioxidant activities would be investigated further to verify the antigenotoxic activities.

In Vitro genotoxic activities of the aqueous extract from Thai Noni's Leaves (ANL) in human lymphocytes

In Vitro genotoxic activities of the aqueous extract from Thai Noni's Leaves (ANL) in human lymphocytes

Phytoestrogenic activity of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) leaf

Phytoestrogenic activity of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) leaf

Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for the analysis of anthraquinones in noni fruits and leaves

Abstract Noni fruits and leaves, which have been used traditionally for thousands of years to improve health, are increasingly attracting the interests of consumers and researchers. A selective and validated HPLC method for the analysis of anthraquinones in noni fruits and leaves has been developed and is reported for the first time. Four anthraquinones, 5,15-dimethylmorindol (5,15-DMM, 1 ), lucidin ( 2 ), and alizarin ( 3 ), and rubiadin ( 4 ) are examined. The limits of detection of 1–4 were in the range of 1.0 and 20.0 ng. Intra- and inter-day precisions of 1 were determined to be less than 5.3%. The accuracy, expressed as the percent recovery of 1 after spiking at three concentrations ranged from 83.0% to 93.3%. Further, the linear correlation coefficient was >0.999, within the range of concentration investigated. The 5,15-DMM content of noni fruit puree and noni leaf infusion are between 0.186 to 0.202 μg/mL (ppm), and 5.82 to 20.93 ng/mL (ppb), respectively. Lucidin, rubiadin and alizarin were not detected in any of the noni samples. The presence of only trace amounts in the noni fruits and leaves may help to eliminate safety concerns regarding anthraquinone contents.

Consumption of guava (Psidium guajava L) and noni (Morinda citrifolia L) may protect betel quid-chewing Papua New Guineans against diabetes.

Rapid increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes (DM2) in Papua New Guinea, coupled with compelling epidemiological evidence supporting a diabetogenic association with betel quid (BQ) chewing has lead us to investigate dietary strategies that might offer protection from developing DM2. We investigated the dietary habits of Kalo residents from coastal Central Province who are avid BQ chewers yet have a relatively low incidence of DM2 compared to the ethnically similar and adjacent Wanigelans who abstain from BQ yet have an unusually high incidence of DM2. In Kalo, guava bud (Psidium guajava L) and noni (Morinda citrifolia L) were consumed much more frequently than in Wanigela, whereas the inverse was observed for mangrove bean (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L) Lam.). These plants, along with BQ and its component ingredients areca nut (Areca catechu L) and Piper betle L inflorescence, were assessed for their ability to mediate insulin-dependent and insulin-independent glucose transport in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes. A dose-dependent inhibition of glucose uptake from methanolic extracts of BQ, areca nut and P. betle inflorescence supports previous reports of prodiabetic activity. Conversely, guava bud extract displayed significant insulin-mimetic and potentiating activity. Noni fruit, noni leaf, commercial noni juice and mangrove bean all displayed insulin-like activity but had little or no effect on insulin action. Habitual intake of guava and noni is proposed to offer better protection against DM2 development and/or betel quid diabetogenicity than cooked mangrove bean. These findings provide empirical support that DM2 risk reduction can be accomplished using traditional foods and medicines.

Anti-proliferative activity of Thai Noni (Morinda citrifolia linn.) leaf extract

In Thai Traditional medicine, the leaf of Thai Noni (Yor, Morinda citrifolia Linn.) is used for the treatment of several symptoms including cough, vomiting and pain [1]. However, scientific evidence of the benefits of the noni leaf is limited. In this study, Thai Noni leaves were extracted by several methods and were evaluated against human cancer cell lines: KB (human epidermoid carcinoma), HeLa (human cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) and HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines as well as vero (African green monkey kidney cell) cell line employing the MTT colorimetric method [2], comparing to damnacanthal, rutin, and scopoletin. The dichloromethane extract of fresh leaf showed better inhibitory effect against KB and HeLa cells with IC50 values of 21.67 and 68.50µg/ml, respectively. In a similar way, the dichloromethane extract of dried leaves revealed cytotoxicity against KB cell with IC50 values of 39.00µg/ml, whereas lyophilized, decoction, ethanolic and methanolic extracts as well as the single compounds; rutin and scopoletin, showed reduced anti-proliferative effect in all cancer cell lines (IC50 103-&gt;600µg/ml). Interestingly, damnacanthal showed potent cytotoxicity against either all cancer cell lines or vero cell lines.

Evaluation of the Wound‐Healing Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Morinda citrifolia L. Leaf

Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) is one of the most important traditional Polynesian medicinal plants. The primary indigenous use of this plant appears to be of the leaves, as a topical treatment for wound healing. The ethanol extract of noni leaves (150 mg kg−1 day−1) was used to evaluate the wound-healing activity on rats, using excision and dead space wound models. Animals were randomly divided into two groups of six for each model. Test group animals in each model were treated with the ethanol extract of noni orally by mixing in drinking water and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, time until complete epithelialization, granulation tissue weight and hydoxyproline content. On day 11, the extract-treated animals exhibited 71% reduction in the wound area when compared with controls which exhibited 57%. The granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline content in the dead space wounds were also increased significantly in noni-treated animals compared with controls (P < 0.002). Enhanced wound contraction, decreased epithelialization time, increased hydroxyproline content and histological characteristics suggest that noni leaf extract may have therapeutic benefits in wound healing.