Although Noni plant  (Morinda citrifolia) is not new product, it is being widely recognized for its medicinal and regenerative value in the skin care market.

The noni plant is assumed to have originated in Southeast Asia. It is believed that French Polinesians took the noon plant with them when they colonized the islands of the South Pacific, as a source of food and medicine, about 2000 years ago. Written documentation exists stating that the fruit was used as food in Tahiti, Fiji, Roratonga, Samoa, Australia and India. They also used a yellow or red dye that was obtained by scraping and pounding the roots and bark. This dye was later used to color tap cloths and clothing.

Every part of the noni plant, from the root to the leaves, has been used for some sort of healing or curative purpose. Healers used the leaves as bandage for wounds, juice was extracted from the green fruit to cure lesions and mouth sores. Inflammation or infections were treated with the root or bark. All kinds of conditions were cared for with noni: fevers, skin disease, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal upset, menstrual or urinary problems, diabetes, and venereal diseases.  Research into the traditional uses of noni indicate that it was the second most popular plant used in herbal remedies with approximately 40 known and recorded formulations.  Noni is included in the traditional pharmacopedias of Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Asian populations.

The noni plant is a small evergreen tree that grows 3 to 6 meters high. All parts of the plant can be used and are reported to have some role in the treatment of common everyday illnesses.

Some of the illnesses the noni plant is used to treat and modern uses are: ADD/ADHD, addictions, allergies, arthritis, asthma, brain problems, burns, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, diabetes, digestive problems, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, gout, hypertension, immune deficiency, infection, inflammation, jet lag, multiple sclerosis, muscle and joint pain, polio, rheumatism, severed fingers, sinus, veterinary medicine.

Different parts of the noni plant are also marketed as powerful ingredients in many products or as products on their own.. Noni fruit oil is used in shampoo. The tree’s dried leave’s are marketed as tea for their medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Noni juice contains a variety of antioxidants which are very useful because they prevent free radicals from damaging cells.  Its medicinal benefits have nor yet been established scientifically, but the plant does contain compounds of proven medicinal value. They include metabolism-regulating xeronines, anti-inflammatory scopoletin and immune-boosting polysaccharides.

Although all information on noni seems to be positive, some claim that the sugar and potassium contained by it make it unsafe for diabetics and people with renal failure to use. It may also cause constipation, although some believe the leaves, flowers, fruit and bark can be used as a laxative. Some also think that noni can help treat many ailments such as  as cancer, AIDS, heart disease and diabetes, but this info was found to be groundless according to the Creighton University’s Medical Center.

Some examples of research done on noon fruit and its benefits in skin care are the following:

- Dr. R.M. Heinecke from the University of Hawaii, discovered with his studies that xeroxine, a powerful alkaloid, which acts as powerful cell regenerating agent.

- “introduction of Normal Phenotypes in RAS-transformed cells by Damnacanthal from Morinda Cirtriolia /9noni fruit)” by T. iramatsu. M. Imoto, T. Koyano, K. Umezawa. Cancer 73 (1993) 161-166 . These Japanese researchers studied the effect of over 500 extracts from tropical plants on the K-ras NRK cell (a pre-cursor to certain types of cancer). The compound, damncantha found in the Noni fruit, was found to be an inhibitor of as function.

- “Analgesic and Behavioral Effect of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni Fruit)” by C. Younos, A. Rolland, J. Fluerentin, M. Lanhers, R. Misslin, F. Mortier. Planta Mdica 56 (1990) 430-431. In this study, the analgesic and sedative effect of extracts from Noni fruit are tested. The researchers conlcuded that the noon fruit extracts did in fact have a consistent analgesic effect in each experiment.

Also if you want to read more on the subject you can look for the following:

- “Noni Phenomenon”  by Neil Solomon

- “53 Ways to Use Noni Fruit Juice ” by Isabelle NAvarre-Brown