noni

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• indian-mulberry
• noni-tree
• canary-wood
• cheesefruit
• great morinda
• rotten cheesefruit
• French mulberry
• Indian mulberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Morinda tinctoria var. multiflora
• Morinda macrophylla
• Morinda quadrangularis
• Platanocephalus orientalis
• Samama citrifolia
• Morinda litoralis
• Morinda ligulata
• Morinda mudia
• Morinda multiflora
• Morinda citrifolia var. potteri
• Morinda citrifolia f. potteri
• Morinda teysmanniana
• Morinda nodosa
• Morinda zollingeriana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Morinda citrifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianaales. Finally, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family and falls under the genus Morinda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across diverse tropical regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found inhabiting the Chagos Archipelago, the Comoros, and the Seychelles. Its distribution also extends into Asia, where it is documented in China. Specifically, it is located in the Hainan province as well as across China Southeast. These varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in multiple maritime and continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Morinda citrifolia is characterized by its broad adaptability to various landscapes, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1200 m AMSL. This species frequently occupies anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a notable capacity to thrive in environments modified or created by human activity. Its ability to colonize these disturbed areas across a significant altitudinal gradient highlights its resilience and versatility within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Morinda citrifolia are characterized by a complex chromosomal makeup, with observed chromosome numbers reported at 22 and 44. This variation in chromosome count suggests a capacity for polyploidy within the species, although the primary ploidy level is documented as 2. This genetic architecture provides the foundational blueprint for the plant's diverse biochemical profile and its ability to adapt to various environmental conditions.

Chromosome number :

22,44

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Morinda citrifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. Classified taxonomically under different life form descriptors depending on structural emphasis, it is primarily identified as a phanerophyte due to its woody, shrubby, or tree-like growth habit where buds are elevated above the ground, though it can also be categorized as a nanophanerophyte in certain growth stages or environmental contexts. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage year-round and providing a consistent canopy.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Morinda citrifolia is characterized by its growth form, which can range from a shrub to a tree. It is a woody, terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as being a liana or a vine, nor does it grow as an epiphyte. The plant's stature varies significantly, with a minimum height of 1 m, a mean height of approximately 6.05 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

6.05 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Morinda citrifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, lacking specialized water-storage tissues within its leaves. Its leaf morphology is quite substantial, with dimensions ranging from a minimum length of 20 cm to a maximum length of 45 cm, and a width that spans from 7 cm to 25 cm. Furthermore, Morinda citrifolia does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on available soil nitrates and ammonium rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

45 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width min:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Morinda citrifolia is characterized by the production of white flowers that eventually develop into a specialized fruit type known as a drupe. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, and they typically measure between 5 cm and 10 cm in length. Within these fruits, the seeds are relatively small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.01502 g and a length ranging from a minimum of 6 mm to a maximum of 7 mm. The dispersal of the species is primarily driven by a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as a medium to transport the seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed length max:

7 mm

Seed length min:

6 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.01502 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Morinda citrifolia has 6 reported plant parts identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem, flower.

Fruit

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of wound care
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Leaf

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. ACS omega

Root

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. ACS omega
3. Biotechnology advances
4. Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
5. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. ACS omega
3. Natural product research

Flower

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. ACS omega

Seed

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chemicals

Morinda citrifolia has 171 reported phytochemicals identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthraquinones, Asperulosidic acid, RUTIN, quercetin, scopoletin.

Anthraquinones

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. ACS omega
4. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
5. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Asperulosidic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products
4. Cancer research
5. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
4. Journal of chromatography. A
5. Food & nutrition research

quercetin

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Food & function
5. Frontiers in physiology

scopoletin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. ACS omega
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

damnacanthal

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
3. Inflammation & allergy drug targets
4. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Asperuloside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products

Deacetylasperulosidic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. ACS omega
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

6-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-O-octanoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose

1. Cancer research
2. Journal of natural products

Activities

Morinda citrifolia has 446 reported activities identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. ACS omega
5. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. ACS omega
3. Microbial pathogenesis
4. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Integrative cancer therapies
3. Food & function
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Antimicrobial

1. ACS omega
2. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Integrative cancer therapies
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
4. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biotechnology
3. Food & function
4. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Acta pharmacologica Sinica

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Integrative cancer therapies
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiaging

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Morinda citrifolia has 65 reported investigations on conditions identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress, arthritis, obesity.

Cancer

1. Fitoterapia
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Cancer research
4. Integrative cancer therapies
5. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Inflammation

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Inflammation & allergy drug targets
3. Food & function
4. Journal of natural products
5. International journal of stem cells

Oxidative stress

1. Food & function
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Obesity

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Nutrients
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. ACS omega
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Hypertension

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Morinda citrifolia has 15 reported preparations identified across 40 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaves, 90% ethanol extract of the fruits of M. citrifolia, 90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves, Alcoholic extracts of the tender leaves, Fermented Fruit Juice.

Leaves

1. Journal of natural products
2. Organic letters

90% ethanol extract of the fruits of m. citrifolia

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

90% ethanol extract of the stems and leaves

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Alcoholic extracts of the tender leaves

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Fermented fruit juice

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Mc.cr

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Noni juice

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Botanical dietary supplement

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Crude ethanol extracts

1. Molecular medicine reports

Dry powder

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica