NONI DEL TROPICO

HISTORY AND TRADITION OF NONI

Ancient peoples of what is now known as French Polynesia (Tahiti), settled many islands throughout the South Pacific. As they made their voyages from island to island in the ocean-going canoes, they brought with them sacred plants from their home islands. These plants contained the basic foods, construction materials and medicines used by the Polynesian settlers. Perhaps the most important of these plants is known as Morinda Citrifolia.

Ancient manuscripts handed down from generation to generation, describe many uses for this plant.This plant is known among the people of the tropics world-wide, including Panama. In Malaysia, it is known as Mengkudu, in Southeast Asia it is known as Nhau. In the islands of the South Pacific the plant is known as Nonu, Nono in Raratonga and Tahiti, and Noni in the Marquesas Islands, Hawaii and the tropical regions of Latin America.

Being an important source of food, the fruit of the Morinda ciitrifolia tree has been used for centuries as a food source. Early Polynesians recognized its pure value and consumed it in times of famine.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE NONI FRUIT

The Morinda Citrifolia plant flourishes in the lush and unspoiled regions of the tropics. Here in Panama the noni plant can be found almost everywhwere, but it is more common in the tropical rainforest region of the country. The plant reaches up to15-20 feet tall and gives fruits all year-round. The blossoms of the tree are of a creamy white color. The mature noni fruit is about the size of a potato and resembles a small breadfruit. When ripe, the fruit turns yellow and white. Among the main active ingredients of this fruit are: Xeronine, phytonutrients and selenium.

Xeronine: An important alkaloid that some scientists believe works at molecular level to stimulate cell function and regenerate damaged cells. Xeronine may also increase levels of endorphins and serotonin, brain chemicals that create a feeling of "well-being."

Today, noni is one of the best raw materials to use for the isolation of xeronine. It occurs in practically all healthy cells of plants, animals and microorganisms. However, the amount of free alkaloid is minimal and is well below the limits of detection by normal chemical analytical techniques.

Even though noni fruits have a negligible amount of free xeronine, they contain appreciable amounts of the precursor of xeronine. This precursor, which I have named "proxeronine", is a strange molecule. The molecular weight is relatively high, about 16,000. Contrasting most plant colloids, this colloid contains neither sugars, amino acids or nucleic acids.

Noni fruits also contain the inactive form of the enzyme which releases xeronine from proxeronine. Many years of research are still required to demonstrate convincingly how xeronine functions at molecular level in a cell. It has been proposed that the primary function of xeronine is to regulate the rigidity and shape of specific proteins.

Phytonutrients: Natural chemicals that provide nourishment to cells, tissues, and organs, fighting free radicals, warding off diseases, and even reversing the effects of aging and pollution. They are also believed to block the cancer developing process.

Selenium: An important anti-oxidant and trace element that might preserve the skin's elasticity, thus slowing the aging process. Selenium increases oxygen flow to the heart and may prevent blood coagulation and hypertension.