2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) has been used medicinally by Polynesians for over 2,000 years. The ripe fruit and fermented juice are favored as a modern remedy for diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. Noni juice is marketed and consumed as a novel food ingredient or botanical dietary supplement in the U.S. However, it is important to identify the active constituents which contribute to the fruit’s biological activities. We produced fermented noni juice exudates (fNE) from Hawaii-grown noni fruit and conducted bioassay-guided fractionation of the organic extract of fNE. Noni fruit at the firm, yellow-white maturity stage were placed into sterile 3.8-L glass jars (1.5 to 2.0 kg fruit per jar) with lids, and stored in the dark at 22 °C in a walk-in chamber for 16 days. During this time, juice exuded from the fruit and the naturally fermented juice was removed and pasteurized at 85 °C for 3 minutes. The fNE (10 L) was frozen, freeze-dried, and extracted with ethyl acetate and n-butanol successively. A series of iridoid glycosides and other components were isolated from the organic extract. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. Iridoid glycosides were obtained as major constituents in the fermented exudates, and some exhibited induction of the phase 2 enzyme quinone reductase-1. Most notably, the iridoid glycosides rhodolatouside, and rhodolatouside B demonstrated strong inducing effects. These results suggest that these juices display both antioxidant capacity and induction of phase II enzyme activity, and that fNE may possess cancer chemopreventive activity with no or low hepatotoxicity. Additionally, we have demonstrated that fNE exhibits antitumor activity through direct inhibition of tumor cells and activation of the immune system in a mouse tumor model. Overall, these results encourage the conduct of translational research from the laboratory to preclinical practice with the ultimate goal of addressing important healthcare concerns and improving the health of cancer patients.