Characterization, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Costa Rican noni juice (Morinda citrifolia L.).
OBJECTIVE
Noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) juice has been used for more than 2000 years in Polynesia as a traditional folk medicine. The aim of the present study was to finely characterize noni juice from Costa Rica and to evaluate its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities.


METHODS
A microfiltrated noni juice was prepared with Costarican nonis. HPLC-DAD and Electro Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MS) were used to identify phenolic compounds and iridoids. The anti-oxidative activity of noni juice was measured in vitro by both Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging methods. The anti-inflammatory effects of noni juice were investigated in vitro by: measuring its effect on nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production by activated macrophages, evaluating its inhibitory activities on cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 and in vivo on a carrageenan-induced paw oedema model in rats.


RESULTS
Several polyphenols belonging to the coumarin, flavonoid and phenolic acid groups, and two iridoids were identified. Noni juice demonstrated a mean range free radical scavenging capacity. Furthermore, it also reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema, directly inhibited cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 activities and inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins E(2) (PGE(2)) in activated J774 cells, in a dose dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that noni's biological effects include: (1) anti-oxidant properties probably associated with phenolic compounds, iridoids and ascorbic acid and (2) anti-inflammatory action through NO and PGE(2) pathways that might also be strengthened by anti-oxidant effects.
Dussossoy
E
E
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Physiopathologie Expérimentales, UMR Qualisud, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Montpellier I, Montpellier, France.
Brat
P
P
Bony
E
E
Boudard
F
F
Poucheret
P
P
Mertz
C
C
Giaimis
J
J
Michel
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001628:Beverages; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003364:Costa Rica; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D032066:Morinda; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols