What Is Noni? Other Names: Ba Ji Tian, Bois Douleur, Morinda citrifolia

What is Noni?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Noni, scientifically known as Morinda citrifolia, is a tropical fruit-bearing plant that has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Originating from Southeast Asia and Australasia, Noni has gained attention for its potential health benefits and applications in various fields, including nutrition, agriculture, and medicine. Other names include: Ba Ji Tian, Bois Douleur, Canarywood, Cheese Fruit, Hai Ba Ji, Hawaiian Noni, Hog Apple, Indian Mulberry, Jus de Noni, Luoling, Mengkudu, Menkoedoe, Mora de la India, Morinda, Morinda citrifolia, Mulberry, Mûre Indienne, Nhau, Noni Juice, Nono, Nonu, Pau-Azeitona, Rotten Cheese Fruit, Ruibarbo Caribe, Tahitian Noni Juice, Ura, Wild Pine, Wu Ning, Yor.

Health Benefits of Noni

Noni fruit extract has been studied for its ability to alleviate hangover symptoms. Research indicates that Noni can reduce blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations, which are responsible for hangover effects. In a study involving Sprague Dawley rats and human subjects, Noni fruit extract significantly decreased these concentrations and improved hangover symptoms by enhancing the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes1.

Additionally, Noni has shown potential as an anti-inflammatory agent. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial tested the efficacy of Noni in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Although the study did not find significant differences in pain and bleeding scores compared to the placebo, it highlighted Noni’s traditional use in managing inflammation8.

Agricultural Applications

Noni has also been explored for its benefits in animal nutrition. For instance, a study on Holstein dairy cows demonstrated that Noni meal could be used as a feed ingredient without negatively affecting rumen fermentation characteristics. The inclusion of Noni meal improved the fatty acid profile of milk, particularly increasing the concentration of C18:1 fatty acid3. Similarly, Noni fruit polysaccharides were found to enhance ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestion in cashmere goats, indicating its potential as a ruminal fermentation enhancer5.

Stress and Metabolic Regulation

In poultry, Noni has been investigated for its effects on stress and metabolic regulation. Under heat stress conditions, Noni supplementation in broiler chickens modulated the expression of stress- and metabolic-related genes in the hypothalamus. This modulation helped reduce the adverse effects of heat stress, such as elevated body temperature and decreased feed intake6. Another study on broiler chickens under heat stress conditions found that Noni supplementation regulated the expression of hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic proteins, suggesting its role in managing heat stress-induced metabolic changes2.

Liver Protection

Noni has also been studied for its hepatoprotective properties. In a study involving female Sprague-Dawley rats, Noni juice was found to protect the liver from acute injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The pretreatment with Noni juice significantly reduced hepatotoxic lesions and lowered serum levels of liver enzymes, indicating its protective effect against liver damage9.

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Adverse Effects of Noni

Increased Waist Circumference: Consumption of noni juice or infusion led to a significant increase in waist circumference in rats fed a high-fat diet1.

Altered Renal Function: Noni consumption resulted in lower serum creatinine levels and a higher blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio, indicating potential renal function alterations1.

Elevated Cholesterol Levels: Noni infusion consumption significantly increased serum total cholesterol and LDL levels in rats1.

Potential for Anaphylaxis: Noni fruit extract has been shown to inhibit active cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats, suggesting it can modulate immune responses, which might pose risks for allergic reactions in some individuals6.

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How has Noni Improved Patient Outcomes?

Reduction in Intubation Rates: NIV significantly reduced the need for endotracheal intubation (ETI) compared to standard medical therapy (SMT). The rate of meeting ETI criteria was much lower in the NIV group (7.3%) compared to the SMT group (63.4%)1.

Mortality Rates: The mortality rate was also significantly lower in the NIV group. The odds ratio for mortality was 0.40 in the NIV group compared to 0.83 in the SMT group, indicating a substantial survival benefit1.

Improvement in Respiratory Parameters: Patients receiving NIV showed faster and more significant improvements in arterial blood gases, respiratory rate, and dyspnoea scores compared to those receiving SMT1.

Rescue Therapy Effectiveness: For patients with ‘do not intubate’ (DNI) orders, those who received NIV as a rescue therapy had mortality rates comparable to the primary NIV group and significantly lower than those who received ETI1.

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Noni Mechanisms of Action

Cholesterol-Lowering Mechanism

Noni fruit juice has been shown to inhibit key enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis:

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibition: Noni fruit juice and its methanol extract inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme critical for cholesterol synthesis. This inhibition is concentration-dependent, with significant effects observed in vitro1.

ACAT Enzyme Inhibition: Noni also inhibits ACAT enzymes, which are involved in cholesterol esterification, further contributing to its cholesterol-lowering potential1.

Antioxidant Mechanism

Noni juice improves antioxidant status through several pathways:

Increased Superoxide Dismutase Activity: Deacetylasperulosidic acid (DAA), a major phytochemical in noni, increases superoxide dismutase activity, reducing oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde3.

Catalase Activity: Although not directly confirmed, DAA may also enhance catalase activity, contributing to the overall antioxidant effect3.

Reduction in Blood Chemiluminescence: Clinical trials with athletes showed a 25% decrease in blood chemiluminescence, indicating potent antioxidant effects2.

Alleviation of Hangover Symptoms

Noni fruit extract helps reduce hangover symptoms by:

Decreasing Blood Ethanol and Acetaldehyde Levels: Noni fruit extract significantly lowers blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations, which are responsible for hangover symptoms4.

Increasing Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity: These enzymes are crucial for metabolizing alcohol and its toxic byproducts, and their activity is enhanced by noni extract4.

Modulation of Lipid Metabolism Under Stress

In broiler chickens, noni supplementation affects lipid metabolism and stress response:

Regulation of Lipogenic Proteins: Noni modulates the expression of lipogenic proteins such as ACCα, FASN, and ACLY, particularly under heat stress conditions5.

Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs): Noni influences the expression of HSPs, which are involved in the stress response, suggesting a role in managing stress-induced changes in lipid metabolism5.

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Common Complaints Associated with Noni Use

Gastrointestinal Issues

Diarrhea: In a human intervention study, participants who consumed Noni fruit extract reported experiencing diarrhea at 40 and 720 minutes after alcohol intake2.

Potential Allergic Reactions

Although not explicitly detailed in the provided study, it is important to note that, like many natural supplements, Noni may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Symptoms can include skin rashes, itching, and respiratory issues.

Interactions with Alcohol

While Noni fruit extract has been shown to reduce blood acetaldehyde levels and alleviate hangover symptoms, it may also interact with alcohol metabolism, potentially leading to unexpected side effects in some users2.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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