Noni Juice

Cindy, I searched the net for info on Noni juice and all I could find were sites that sold the stuff. That's always my first red flag!
A Dr.Heineke has 'researched' it. Claims it's a plant colloid, not a vitamin/amino acid or sugar. He even named this colloid himself, that's the second red flag. He calls it xeronine, says its a precursor to proxeronine, works on a cellular level and is good for 'everything'. Third red flag, 3 strikes ur out.
Lastly, it is a large molecular weight compound. I have an article from nature medicine referencing
Karolinska Institure, Dept of Onc-Path; Institute of Cytology and Genetics; and Englehardt Institute of Molecular Biology
This article regards restoring tumor killing functions to the p53 gene by a low-molecular-weight compound called PRIMA-1
Not for sale, at least not to the public, science laboratories can buy it.
I'd be leary of a high molecular weight compound, with no scientific studies and all promotional websites.
There are alternative therapies out there that I think are valuable, but not this one, in my opinion. God bless. hummingbyrd

From Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital's site:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11571.cfm?RecordID=469&tab=HC
Noni JuiceAbout Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products > Search About Herbs


About Herbs



A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z







NONI (Morinda citrifolia)


HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION
º Clinical Summary
º Scientific Name
º Also Known As
º Brand Name
º Purported Uses
º Constituents
º Mechanism of Action
º Warnings
º Contraindications
º Adverse Reactions
º Literature Summary and Critique
º References






CLINICAL SUMMARY
Derived from the fruit, leaves, and roots of the tree. Noni is a traditional Polynesian remedy for a variety of conditions including cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Several polysaccharides, anthraquinones (2), and alkaloids (3) are thought responsible for its activity. Animal studies show antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of noni juice extracts (5) (6) (10). University of Hawaii is conducting an NIH funded phase I study of noni in cancer patients. No serious adverse events or drug interactions have been noted. However, due to the high sugar content in the fruit juice, diabetics should use noni juice with caution.



SCIENTIFIC NAME
Morinda citrifolia


ALSO KNOWN AS
Lada, Indian mulberry, nono, och plant, cheese fruit, hog apple, mora de la India, wild pine


BRAND NAME
Morinda®


PURPORTED USES
Cancer treatment
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Diabetes
Health maintenance
Hypertension
Immunostimulation
Menstrual cramps
Pain


CONSTITUENTS
Acids: Caproic, caprylic (1)

Anthraquinone: Damnacanthal

Polysaccharides: Noni-ppt, galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid

Glycosides: Rutin, 6-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-O-octanoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose, asperulosidic acid (2)
Terpenes
Alkaloids (3)


MECHANISM OF ACTION
The exact mechanism of action is unknown. The fruit juice contains noni-ppt, a polysaccharide-rich substance, which significantly enhances survival of inbred Lewis Lung carcinoma bearing mice (10). Noni-ppt is thought to act by an immunomodulatory mechanism (4). It increases nitric oxide production from murine peritoneal macrophages and stimulates the release of cytokines, interleukin 1-beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha from human peripheral mononuclear cells. When combined with sub-optimal doses of standard chemotherapeutic agents such as adriamycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and vincristine, noni-ppt improved survival time and curative effects in a LLC mouse model (5). Two glycosides isolated from noni juice inhibit AP-1 transactivation and cell transformation in the mouse epidermal JB6 cell line (3). Oral noni juice reduces DMBA-DNA adduct formation by 50-90% in organs of C57 BL-6 mice and shows antioxidant activity in vitro (6). Aqueous extract of noni root produced a central analgesic effect in Swiss mice that was antagonized by naloxone (7).


WARNINGS
Due to the high sugar content in the fruit juice, diabetic patients should use noni juice with caution.


CONTRAINDICATIONS
Due to potassium content, patients with renal failure should not consume noni.


ADVERSE REACTIONS
Common: Constipation
Case report: Hyperkalemia in a patient with renal failure
(8)


LITERATURE SUMMARY AND CRITIQUE

Animal Studies:
Hirazumi A, et al. Anticancer activity of morinda citrifolia (noni) on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in syngeneic mice. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1994;37:145-6.
Noni fruit was prepared from fruit stored in glass jars in direct sunlight for up to 3 days. The juice was removed and processed to remove the ethanol fractions. Lewis lung carcinoma was injected intraperitoneally (IP) into C57BL/6 mice. Twenty-four hours later, noni extract was injected IP either daily or every other day for 5 days. Results of the study showed that mice treated with 15 mg noni juice extract survived 20 days longer than control mice. Additive toxicity was demonstrated when noni extract was combined with conventional chemotherapy such as vincristine, 5-fluorouracil, and doxorubicin. Additional animal and human studies are needed to confirm this report.


REFERENCES
(1) Levand O, Larson HO. Some chemical constituents of Morinda citrifolia. Planta med 1979;36:186-7.
(2) Wang M, et al. Novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester identified from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni). J Agric Food Chem 1999;47:4880-2.
(3) Liu G, et al. Two novel glycosides from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (noni) inhibit AP-1 transactivation and cell transformation in the mouse epidermal JB6 cell line. Cancer Res 2001;61:5749-56.
(4) Hirazumi A, et al. Immunomodulation contributes to the anticancer activity of Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit juice. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1996;39:7-9.
(5) Hirazumi A, Furusawa E. An immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (noni) with antitumour activity. Phytother Res 1999;13:380-7.
(6) Wang MY, Su C. Cancer preventative effect of Morinda citrifolia (noni). Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001;952:161-8.
(7) Younos C, et al. Analgesic and behavioural effects of Morinda citrifolia. Planta Med 1990;56:430-4.
(8) Mueller BA, et al. Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia): hidden potential for hyperkalemia? Am J Kidney Dis 2000;35:310-2.
(9) Horowitz S. Traditional Hawaiian healing arts enrich conventional medical practices. Altern Complement Ther 2001;7:68-73.
(10) Hirazumi A, et al. Anticancer activity of morinda citrifolia (noni) on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in syngeneic mice. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1994;37:145-6.



Written: 10/01/2001
Updated: 09/02/2003

I have been taking Noni Juice now for over three years. I was stricken with most side affects from all treatments. I started with one disease cancer and now have had to learn to cope with many diseases. Doctors could give little hope or help and at one time wanted to give me anti depressants rather than look into my problems. Some of us are just that sensative to everything. Morinda's Tahitian Noni has helped me to get my life back. With some medication and Noni I finally feel like I have a life to live after 7 years of survival. Isn't it funny doctors don't want to talk about side affects until they are forced to. I am in to natural things and this really was the only thing that I could find that was all natural and after quitting smoking what was 2 dollars a day anyways. I have tried many times to go off this juice and within days I am barely able to get out of bed because of all the pain. It took me over 4 years to find something that could help me since the doctors couldn't. No RED flags here and with the risk factors I still have I hope this will help me in the long run. I want more than the ten years my grandmother got after her struggle with her breast cancer.
Be good to yourself always,
Tara
More energy than I had had in years after taking Noni just a few short days.