Abstract

NONI (MORINDA CITRIFOLIA) PHARMACOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL ACTION AND MEDICINAL VALUES: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Siddalingappa C. Sajjanar*, Aravinda Kumar B.N., Tuppad G.B. and Sangshetty Balkunde

ABSTRACT

Morinda citrifolia is a perennial plant originated in Southeast Asia, consumed over 2000 years and it is commonly known as noni (Morinda citrifolia). Because of its vast adaptation and uses of plant parts for different therapeutic purposes which has huge opportunities for researchers from the pharmaceutical and food industry. Chemical and nutritional analyzes already performed in M. citrifolia reveal the existence of more than 200 phytochemical substances with bioactive properties such as acids, alcohols, phenols, saccharides, anthraquinones, carotenoids, esters, triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, lactones, iridoids, ketones, lactones, lignans, nucleosides, triterpenides, sterols and aromatic compounds. The high nutritional value of M. citrifolia may induce therapeutic effects, including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Not only medicinal value but also has a many industrial products of noni are beverages (juice drinks), powders (from dried fruits), oil (from seeds) and leaf powders. Biological and phytotherapeutic applications of M. citrifolia are promising, but more extensive studies are still required. The aim of this review it is to gather updated information on noni, discussed its traditional use, biochemical, phytotherapics and toxicological properties.

Keywords: Noni, Medicinal properties, Uses.