Planet Article

Indian Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.): The wonder Plant

Morinda citrifolia, the Indian Mulberry or Indian Noni commonly known as great Morinda is a shrub or small tree in the family of Rubiaceae which usually grow upto a height of 6 m or more and the stem grows upto 13 cm or more in diameter at maturity. It is native to Southeast Asia and South Pacific and now has a pan-tropical distribution. The plant beans flower and fruit throughout the year. It has large evergreen leaves and its small white flowers sprout at various times during the year. The flowers then develop to a translucent-juicy-fruit. The greenish-white to pale-yellow, fleshy fruits are 5 to 7 cm long. The fruit has a lumpy texture and looks similar to a hand grenade. It has an unpleasant odour and has a rancid taste and smells when fully ripened. They contain a number of seeds of about 4 mm long. Noni is renowned in India for its unique ability to be used as a remedy in a number of ailments. The fruit of the Noni was an important source of food for the early Polynesians, who consumed it in times of famine. Australian aborigines were fond of the fruit and people in Burma cooked unripe fruits in curries and ate the ripened fruit raw with salt. The seed, leaf, bark, and root were also eaten by people versed in the healing properties of this unique. Amazingly, every part of the Morinda citrifolia plant is used. Distribution Morinda citrifolia is grown in a wide range of environments including rocky terrains, fertile lowlands and sandy areas but is found in most of the island terrains of the South Pacific of Tahiti, Hawaii, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Africa, Guam and West Indies. Although it grows naturally only a few meters above sea level, Noni can be cultivated on sites up to 800 m or more above sea level. Noni is most competitive on sands and loamy sands but will grow on soils of all other textures if planted and protected from competition. Noni grows naturally on the edges of mangroves in coastal forests, and on the landward side of beach strand vegetation. The species is grown in plantations as an ornamental and as a garden medicinal tree. The species is useful for coastal erosion control and it is planted as an ornamental in some areas. Noni also grows as a recent introduction around villages or in home gardens. Banana (Musa sp), Papaya (Carica papaya), Pandanus (Pandanus sp.) etc are the associated species of Noni. Distribution Morinda citrifolia is grown in a wide range of environments including rocky terrains, fertile lowlands and sandy areas but is found in most of the island terrains of the South Pacific of Tahiti, Hawaii, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Africa, Guam and West Indies. Although it grows naturally only a few meters above sea level, Noni can be cultivated on sites up to 800 m or more above sea level. Noni is most competitive on sands and loamy sands but will grow on soils of all other textures if planted and protected from competition. Noni grows naturally on the edges of mangroves in coastal forests, and on the landward side of beach strand vegetation. The species is grown in plantations as an ornamental and as a garden medicinal tree. The species is useful for coastal erosion control and it is planted as an ornamental in some areas. Noni also grows as a recent introduction around villages or in home gardens. Banana (Musa sp), Papaya (Carica papaya), Pandanus (Pandanus sp.) etc are the associated species of Noni. Propagation Noni is relatively easy to propagate from seeds, stem or root cuttings and air layering. The preferred methods of propagation are by seed and by cuttings made form the stem verticals. Fruits are harvested when they start turning white or even when they have become fully ripe, i.e., soft, translucent and characteristically odorous. For seed production, the riper the fruit the better is the production. Environmental Preferences for Noni

1. Mean annual rainfall: 250-4000 mm
2. Mean annual temperature: 20-350C
3. Mean maximum temperature of hottest month: 32-380C
4. Mean maximum temperature of coldest month: 5-180C
5. Minimum temperature tolerated: 120C
6. Soil
   • Drainage: It prefers well drained soils
   • Acidity: It can grow in a wide range of acidity levels from acidic to alkaline soils.
   • Tolerance: Tolerates shallow, saline and even infertile soils.
7. Drainage: It prefers well drained soils Acidity: It can grow in a wide range of acidity levels from acidic to alkaline soils. Tolerance: Tolerates shallow, saline and even infertile soils.
8. Drought: It can easily withstand drought for 6 months or more. Wild Noni grows in arid conditions and can spend their entire life in conditions of perpetual drought.
9. Shade: It can grow in a wide range of light intensities from full sun to 80% shade.
10. Fire: It can regenerate after fire by sprouting new foliage from roots or stems.
11. Water logging: It can withstand and even thrives in brackish tide pools.

Medicinal Use Over the last decade, a growing number of people has become interested in the medicinal uses of Noni juice, made from the fruit of Noni. Noni has been used in folk remedies by Polynesians for over 2000 years and is reported to have a wide range of therapeutic effects including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmin, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing effects. Noni fruit contains a number of enzymes (proteins) and alkaloids that are believed to play a pivotal role in maintaining a good health. Some of the health related compounds isolated from Noni are Morindone, Morindine, Acubin, Caprylic acid, Scopoletin, Damnacanthala and alkaloids. In 2003, Noni juice was approved by the European Commission as a novel food and was allowed to be commercialized in the EU. Hawaiian Noni is used as a remedy for joint pains, immune problems, pain relief, cellular regeneration and more. The following points out the traditional use of Noni as medicine for different ailments in different parts of the world. Parts of the Noni fruit are used as a tonic and against fever (China, Japan, and Hawaii). Leaves, flowers, fruit, and bark can treat eye problems, skin wounds and abscesses, gum and throat problems, respiratory ailments, constipation, and fever (Pacific Islands, Hawaii). Used to treat stomach pains and after delivery (Marshall Islands). Heated leaves are applied to the chest to relieve coughs, nausea, and colic (Malaysia India). Juice of the leaves is taken for arthritis (India, Philippines). The fruit is taken for lumbago, asthma and dysentery (India, China). Pounded unripe fruit is mixed with salt and applied to cuts and broken bones. Ripe fruit is used to draw out pus from an infected boil (Hawaii). Juices of over-ripe fruits are taken to regulate menstrual flow and ease urinary problems (India, Malaysia). The fruit can be used to make shampoo (Malaysia, Hawaii) and to treat head lice (Hawaii). Other exotic diseases treated with the plant include diabetes (widespread) and venereal diseases (Hawaii). Scientific studies have investigated Noni’s effect on the growth of cancerous tissue. One such study revealed that Noni inhibited and reduced growth of the capillary vessels sprouting from human breast tumor explants and, at increased concentrations, the Noni caused existing vessels to rapidly degenerate. Another scientific study showed one brand of Noni juice (”TNJ”) to have prevented formation of cancer cells in rats (using detection methods of bio-chemical markers called DNA adducts). It further showed to reduce the number of DNA adducts in rats induced with carcinogenic DMBA, in some cases, by up to 90%. Looking at the wide range of prospects that Noni can offer in terms of medicinal properties, it is quite clear that the plant can be exploited for the benefit of human race. Current trends reflect that people have a more inclination towards herbal medicines for its healing properties and no side effects. Noni best suits the current proposition where it has proved that it has got tremendous medicinal properties and is being used even in the treatment of cancer. Given the conditions that are required for the Noni to grow, it would be a good idea if its cultivation is encouraged in the state. If successful, it may give a boost to the local economy through commercialization.

[Courtesy: Indian Noni (Morinda citrifolia L): The Wonder Plant. Pub: Echo of Arunachal. 28th Feb, 2007; 88Vol XX, No. 8]

Tags: australian aborigines, coastal forests, fertile lowlands, fleshy fruits, healing properties, Indian Mulberry, juicy fruit, loamy sands, mangroves, morinda citrifolia plant, plant beans, polynesians, rubiaceae, sandy areas, seed leaf, southeast asia, unpleasant odour, unripe fruits, white flowers