The Effects of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Juice on Cholesterol Levels: A Mechanistic Investigation and an Open Label Pilot Study.
Loading...
Date
2012-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The traditional usage of noni fruit did not include any claims for lowering cholesterol levels in humans.
However, recently a commercial noni fruit juice blend, Tahitian Noni Original® Bioactive (TNOB),was
shown in a double blind, and placebo control clinical trial to significantly lower cholesterol levels in current
smokers. But, its effect on cholesterol levels of nonsmokers with normal cholesterol levels, and its
mechanisms of action, has not been fully elucidated. The current study evaluates the effects of various noni
preparations (TNOB, NFJC (noni fruit juice concentrates), NFJME (noni fruit juice methanol extract)) on
HMG-CoA Reductase and ACAThepatic/intestine enzymes in vitro. Further, TNOB was evaluated for its
potential cholesterol-lowering effects in 10 non-smoking subjects with normal to mild cholesterol levels.
TNOB and NFJC both inhibited HMG-CoA Reductase, and ACAT enzymes concentration-dependently
in-vitro, and NFJC has a <1.0 mg/mL IC50 on HMG-CoA Reductase enzymes. NFJME, the active fraction
from the noni fruit juice, in 100μg/mL, inhibited HMG-CoA reductase by 81%. TNOB showed a trend
towards lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels while increasing HDL levels in nonsmokers. Noni fruit
juice has the potential to lower cholesterol levels in nonsmokers perhaps via its inhibitory effects on HMGCoA
reductase and ACAT enzymes as its possible mechanism of action. However, a larger clinical trial is
warranted to assess its effects in non-smokers with higher cholesterol levels above 220 mg/dL to evaluate the
nature of this cholesterol-lowering trend seen in this pilot study.
Description
Keywords
Noni juice, HMG-CoA Reductase, ACAT Enzymes, Mechanism
Citation
Palu Afa K., Brown Ashley, Deng Shixin, Kaluhiokalani Norman, West Brett J. The Effects of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Juice on Cholesterol Levels: A Mechanistic Investigation and an Open Label Pilot Study. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 2012 Sept; 2(9): 25-30.