Background

• Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is a traditional folk medicinal plant that has been used for over 2,000 years in Polynesia. Traditionally, Polynesians had many medicinal uses for noni including for fevers, headaches, malaria, bone fractures, dislocations, gastrointestinal disorders, urinary ailments, worms, wounds, rheumatism, and hypertension (high blood pressure). All parts of the noni plant were utilized.
• Although noni is a popular supplement, few clinical trials have been conducted on its uses. There is preliminary research supporting noni's popular use as an antioxidant, but more research is needed in this area to establish noni's effects.
• Based on scientific analysis and review of Tahitian Noni® juice, the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General Scientific Committee on Food found that "although some nutritional benefits are claimed for Morinda citrifolia L. products, the data supplied and the information available to the Committee provided no evidence for special nutritional benefits of Tahitian Noni® juice which go beyond those of other fruit juices."

References

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