Medicinal plants of the Bolivian Amazon

Noni is a typical Polynesian tropical fruit. The outer layer is pale green in color and its interior may be reminiscent of the custard apple, with white flesh and full of bones. Although it is a tropical fruit, it is not too tasty, so it is taken in the form of juice mixed with sugars or honey.

 Nutritional composition of noni juice
 Although it does not have a very remarkable nutritional composition, noni has proxeronine. It is a component that, once in the body, is converted into xeronine, an alkaloid that regulates metabolism and different biological functions and to which many health benefits are attributed.
Antimicrobial effect
 The extract of its fruit contains anthraquinones, alizarin and L-asperuloside, which are attributed antimicrobial characteristics capable of fighting the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and the tuberculosis bacillus.

 Supports the digestive system
 Due to its antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties, it is capable of fighting Helicobacter pylori and helps in the treatment of ulcers, gastritis or intestinal parasites.

 Analgesic and anti-inflammatory
 Calming benefits, sedative and anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to it. It seems that the substances in noni juice are capable of inhibiting COX-1 enzymes, which cause inflammation, and patients with inflammatory diseases notice improvement if they complement conventional treatment with noni juice.

 Improves the immune system
 It seems that a polysaccharide present in the noni fruit is capable of stimulating T lymphocytes (white blood cells), increasing the defenses. Research carried out by the University of Chicago observed a significant increase in the gland that generates T lymphocytes in those animals that had received noni juice daily.

 Reduces triglycerides and blood cholesterol.
 A study published in 2012 confirmed that a group of smokers, with high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, who were given noni juice for 30 days, improved their lipid profile.

 Cancer prevention
 Noni extract appears to enhance the effect of certain medications commonly used to treat cancer.

 There are many studies that have focused on investigating noni and the prevention or improvement of cancer. The American Association for Cancer Research presented a study showing that a special noni extract had a clear anticancer effect in mice (its life was prolonged in 75% of cases). Other studies have shown that noni juice is able to cure 25% to 45% of animals affected by sarcoma.

 Helps control diabetes.
 In 2008, a group of researchers from the West Indies University studied the effect of noni juice on blood sugar levels in a group of mice with diabetes. The group of mice that received insulin combined with noni juice obtained lower blood glucose levels than those that received only insulin.

 Antioxidant power
 It contains a large amount of antioxidant substances, which include selenium, xeronine, lignans, anthraquinones, terpenes and scopoletin, which neutralize the famous free radicals, preventing premature aging of the tissues