- With the presence of active components like anthraquinones, scopoletin & terpenes (e.g. beta-carotene & ursolic acid), noni is effective against bacteria and fungus.
- Noni has been blessed with anthraquinone compounds like alizarin, acubin & L-asperuloside that fight against bacterial strains like E.coli, salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus aureus and baciillis subtilis.
- Extracts of damnacanthal, one of the anthraquinone compounds have been shown to kill the parasite responsible for malaria called Plasmodium falciparum.
Source : The Medical Parasitology, The C.V. Mosby Company, London (1971)
- Damnacanthal is also potent against leishmaniasis, a parasite condition.
- The anthraquinone compound called alizarin inhibits the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Source : Hirotaka H et al “Antiretroviral activities of anthraquinones and their inhibitory effects on reverse transcriptase” Antiviral Research (1991) 15(3):205-216
- Noni exhibited vigorous antiparasitic action when an alcoholic extract consisting of morinda citrirolia & other plants was tested on the human parasite worm called Ascaris lumbricoides.
Source : “Screening of indigenous plants for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: Part II” Indian J Physiol Pharmacol (1975)
- Researchers from the Philippines reported that a concentration of noni leaves killed 89% of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The researchers identified the active compounds in the noni plant to be plant steroids, or phytosterols.
Source : Saludes J et al “Potential antimycobacterial agents isolated from the leaves of noni” International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Honolulu (2000)
Chapter: Noni :: 25 April 2007
