From Folk Healers To Food Stores

Mengkudu or Noni is a shrub like tree in the family of Rubiaceae. Scientifically this tree is known as Morinda citrifolia. Believed to be a native of South East Asia but has been extensively spread as far as to India, Pacific Islands and in certain parts of the West Indies. The tree bears fruits, however, somewhat tasteless and have unpleasant smell.

Noni's reputation as one of the sources of the traditional medicine extends over centuries. It has been reported the fruits have broad therapeutic effects including anticancer activity. In Tahiti, people down there have been using various parts of this plant to treat illness such as fever, eye infection, skin problem, constipation, stomach ache as well as for respiratory difficulties.

In certain countries, some people even relieve coughs, nausea or colic by applying heated Noni leaves to the

chest and consume the fruits to cure for asthma, lumbago and dysentery.

Ground Noni seeds produce oil and said to contain abundant in linoleic acid which have useful properties such as anti-inflammation and anti-acne.

Over the last decade, a growing number of people have become interested in this plant and thus have encouraged the production of Noni juice.

Noni juice claimed to increase mental clarity and attention span, works well on the cellular level and therefore have beneficial effects on the entire body systems as follows:

• supports the natural immune system's ability to fight diseases and infection
• helps circulatory system, tissue and cells to get rid the harmful free radicals in our body
• helps digestive system to increase nutrient intake at the cellular level
• demonstrates antitumor activity
• reduces blood sugar level and hastens wound healing process

Noni is now a thriving new market. Many companies have begun commercially selling Noni products and currently distributed in more than 50 countries. Its health benefits have been realized by million consumers. Noni is now listed as a "general health tonic" to cure illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Despite its popularity, medical applications discussed above have not been verified by modern science.