Noni Maui is the brand name for a line of products containing noni, which is the Hawaiian name for Morinda citrifolia, which is a tree in the coffee family. Polynesians have used noni as a general remedy for centuries. Although recent research supports some of noni's uses, researchers have yet to prove its efficacy on humans. You should not use noni for therapeutic purposes without consulting a physician.
Noni Maui
Noni Maui is a brand created by Noni Biotech International, a commercial producer of noni products using Morinda citrifolia grown in Hawaii. The company sells noni in juice, powder and capsule form. It also sells wholesale noni concentrate and has developed a line of health and spa products, such as soap, lotion, sunscreen and "rejuvenating" products. The company explicitly decries any claims that noni can be used as a treatment or remedy for diseases, but it claims to have anecdotal evidence of "remarkable results."
Immune System Health
Using Noni Maui products may provide a boost to your immune system. The "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," in 2011, published a study that found antioxidant qualities to be present in noni. The specific compounds that noni contains have been implicated in preventing recurring or chronic inflammations that occur in association with autoimmune diseases, cancer, asthma and diabetes. The 2011 study found that noni juice boosted antioxidant levels and had anti-inflammatory effects in rats. The study supported the results of a 2009 article in the "Journal of Food and Drug Analysis," which found that "extracts from the brown stems of M. citrifolia could be a significant source of antioxidants." No human subjects were involved in either study. Because neither noni nor Noni Maui products have proven medicinal efficacy in humans, talk to your doctor before considering a noni regimen.
Cancer
Apart from its antioxidant qualities, research has demonstrated that noni may be effective in the treatment of cancerous tumors. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, is funding a study to research noni's effect on prostate cancer, while the National Cancer Institute initiated a study specific to the use of noni to treat and prevent breast cancer. A 2011 study published in "Fitoterapia" showed that substances derived from noni had some effect in preventing the proliferation of colon and lung cancer cells. No research has been done using human subjects. Consult your physician before taking noni or Noni Maui products as therapy for cancer.
Caution
NCCAM, warns that, in spite of noni's potential benefits, potential side effects could arise from using products such as Noni Maui. Individuals have reported cases of liver damage that arose due to noni use. If you have a liver disease or a chronic liver condition, you should avoid noni altogether. Compounds in the in noni can cause your condition to become more severe. Noni's high potassium levels could also prove adverse for those suffering from kidney conditions or on potassium-restricted diets. The FDA has warned noni juice manufacturers, like Noni Maui, about making health claims that have not been substantiated.
References
- Noni Maui: All About Noni
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Characterization, Anti-oxidative and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Costa Rican Noni Juice (Morinda citrifolia L.); E. Dussossoy, et al.; 2011
- "Journal of Food and Drug Analysis"; Determination of Antioxidative Properties of Morinda citrifolia Using Near Supercritical Fluid Extraction; Chin-Hui Chen, et al;2009
- "Fitoterapia"; Chemical Components of the Roots of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) and Their Cytotoxic Effects; L. Lv, et al.; 2011
- National Institutes of Health: NCCAM: Noni
