Phytochemical and Therapeutic Aspects of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni Plant): A Review

The review discusses ethnopharmacological, morphological, chemical, pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological and safety aspect of the plant Morinda citrifolia. The ischolar_mains, stems, bark, leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant are parts of many herbal remedies. Particularly, the fruit juice of noni plant is in high demand in alternative medicine for treatment of various illnesses such as hypertension, muscle aches and pains, menstrual difficulties, headaches, heart disease, cancers, gastric ulcers and in healing wounds. While recent studies have shown that this fruit has antibacterial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory properties in-vitro, scientific evidence supporting the nutritional and medicinal values of this plant in humans is still not available. However, both the fruit and damnacanthal, an anthraquinone compound extracted from noni ischolar_mains, are currently being studied in the context of anti-cancer research. If, in the future, the nutritional and medicinal values of the noni can be assessed, especially its anti-cancer activity, this fruit could play a noticeable economic role in countries.