Pests of Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) in India

Morinda citrifolia (noni) belonging to the Rubiaceae family, grows best in the tropical climatic conditions. It is a small evergreen shrub with white flowers.  These flowers develop into yellowish white fleshy fruit. Noni has high medicinal value due to which it is consumed as a dietary supplement worldwide yet it is susceptible to various pests.

Noni is well suited for intercropping .In a study it has been well established that Noni grown in forest ecosystem are less prone to insect attack as compared to noni grown in the monoculture farming. Therefore while farm management planning is done, one should take into account the pest management programme too.

About 33 insect species have been identified to cause potential damage to noni plant in India. They result in yield loss and reduced plant growth. However the damage to the crops depends upon the environmental factors as well as the nature of pest that causes the damage.

Some of the insects that attack noni are:

• Leaf folding caterpillars
• Lace wing bugs
• Stem girdlers
• Macroglossum sp
• Blackfly
• Hairy caterpillars
• Grasshoppers

Leaf folding caterpillars                                   

             Macroglossum sp                                

Lacewing bugs

The population of these insects has been found to be higher in the month of May –June and September to November. Mostly pests infesting the noni plant are seasonal but one of the pest Macroglossum sp. occurs throughout the year.

Control of pests 

1. Proper crop inspection and visual assessment

2. Trap catches with pheromones to lure and attract adult 

3. Proper crop Biological control (natural enemies)

4. Increase plant spacing to eliminate hiding places for the caterpillars.

5. Destruction of caterpillars.

6. Use of bio pesticides.

The Happiness Chemistry

Who doesn’t like being happy? But how many of us really know the chemistry behind this. A hormone called serotonin holds the key to being happy.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is biologically derived from and amino acid tryptophan. It increases positive attitude, elevates mood, regulates sleep, enhances social behaviour and boosts memory. Several studies have indicated that good mood is directly proportional to the level of serotonin in blood.

It is interesting to note that Noni (Morinda citrifolia), a universal health supplement already known for its versatile health benefits stimulates production of serotonin. Serotonin is also a precursor for sleep hormone melatonin which induces sleep and relaxes the body. Scopoletin, another important component of noni binds to this serotonin keeping the serotonin levels high and thus helps in relieving pain, regulating temperature, hunger and sexual behaviour.

Serotonin 5-hydroxy tryptamine is essentially found in brain, gastrointestinal tract and platelets.

Not just at the place of its origin but people across the world have been benefited from the unbelievable healing power of noni health supplement. Modern researches pertaining to the various neutraceuticals present in this fruit has given promising results and proved it to alleviate indications such as hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain and fatigue. Due to the presence of these outstanding properties, it has managed to find its place in the new category of fruits known as “Super fruits”.

Magical Morinda citrifolia - Noni

Morinda citrifolia or noni though a native from South- eastern Asia now has a pan tropical distribution. This small evergreen shrub is noted for its wide range of ecological tolerances. It can grow in infertile, acidic, alkaline soils or in very dry to very wet zones.

All parts of the plant, roots and bark, trunks, leaves and fruits have traditional as well as modern uses.

At first it had been known to contain Scopoletin, Terpenoids, and Proxeronine, Glycosides, Amino acids and Vitamins. Although today it is known to contain more than 150 neutraceuticals.

M. citrifolia is a super fruit with unique and versatile therapeutic spectrum. It is a single product with universal applicability. The best thing about this fruit is its potency, fast action and safety. It is a powerful healer that fights cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and relieves pain. Although it does not imply, it is hoax or too good to be true!

Actually noni contain necessary ingredients for the body to make a key component-xeronine. The scientists believe that xeroine is the principle agent responsible for the therapeutic abilities of noni.

According to Dr. Heinicke, xeronine works at the cellular level to maintain the normal functioning of the cells. Xeronine is produced from its precursor proxeronine which is stored in the liver. After every two hours, the brain signals the liver to release the shots of proxeronine into the blood stream. The various organs and tissues convert proxeronine to xeronine for the repairing process. Thus playing a pivotal role in maintaining good health.

Women’s First Choice

A mother, a wife and a daughter-in-law at home or a thorough professional at work. A woman dons many hats. And juggling multiple roles, she is under acute stress 24*7.

A brave heart undoubtedly, today’s women is however prone to multiple health problems owing to stress which affects the overall quality of life.

It is estimated that about 75% of all women face problems during premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which includes amenorrhea, menorrhea, bloating, joint pain, backache, mood swings, fatigue, hot flashes that may be due to hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.

The fruit of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) with its arsenal of therapeutic potential help women to be physically fit while enhancing mental development and promoting emotional stability. 

Noni is extremely high in antioxidants and help to prevent destruction of cells from oxidation. It has been known to help liver in the detoxification process, balance hormone, reduce pain and relax the body. The folic acid and iron present in noni help in boosting the hemoglobin content and support the uterine health and meet the nutritional requirement of the women’s body. Vitamin C and E helps to keep the skin glowing, maintain elasticity, and fight the harmful effects caused by everyday stress.

Noni gives a better recovery from illness, more energy, better sexual health and an overall feeling of well being.

Too Good To Be True

There are some cynics who doubt Noni’s efficacy in treating multiple ailments. Some say it is nothing but sheer marketing gimmick. But, before one jumps to conclusions, it’s best to get the facts right. 

Widely touted as nature’s miracle fruit, Noni – the fruit of Morinda citrifolia– belongs to Rubiaceae family. It is endowed with magical properties owing to neutraceuticals.

Much before the presence of these neutraceuticals was identified in Noni, the fruit was a part of folklore for generations for its innumerable therapeutical benefits.

These days, thanks to our stressful lifestyles, almost all of us tend to suffer from one health problem or the other. High stress levels, constant pressure of deadlines, erratic schedules, poor nutrition and lack of exercise make matters worse. 

More often than not, today’s healthcare system cannot quite weed out the problem but can mask the symptoms and provide symptomatic relief. Which is why there arises a need to go for a holistic approach for a healthier and happier life. Which include emphasis on disease prevention, dietary modifications, intake of nutritional supplements and following exercise regimens.

Nowadays Noni is widely used as a dietary supplement worldwide and millions of people around the globe bear testimony to its therapeutic effectiveness. A small dose of Noni can not only provide relief from existing health problems but also prevent the onset of others.

Extensive research has already been done and yielded positive results in areas of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, pain, vascular diseases. And the list of Noni’s beneficiaries includes children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and elderly persons, all of whom swear by Noni’s efficacy. 

Noni Slowing Down Growth of Cancerous Tumors

Since cancer is regarded as one of the biggest killers of people across the globe, researchers are constantly looking for solutions that can obstruct the path of this deadly disease from spreading further. Thousands of lives are encountering death due to this terrible disease. Patients are even ready to use alternative medicines so as to fight this disease which has infected their anatomy.

According to experiments conducted to identify the properties of noni, it is seen that the antioxidants present in this fruit have cancer preventive properties. The studies revealed that noni stops the growth of malignant tumors which are mainly responsible for causing cancer. This particular experiment was conducted using mice with tumors. Extracts of noni was being directly injected into the tumors regularly which showed that the growth of tumors were significantly reduced within a period of 6 months.

Noni is a nutritious tropical fruit that widely grows on the volcanic soil of Andaman islands. In the midst of a perfect balance of heat, moisture and rain the flowers of this fruit bloom and continue to grow as yellow fruits. Once the fruits are matured enough, they are collected to prepare a wide range of health supplements.

Salveo Andaman Noni is a leading brand selling 100 percent natural supplements of noni such as noni capsules, freeze dried noni powder and a lot more. The supplements are associated with thousands of medicinal properties. The products are effective in increasing body’s energy levels, boosting up immunity, curing gastric ailments, offering long term cell protection, relieving chronic pains of arthritis and many others. Customers willing to purchase the sachets or capsules of this innovative fruit are required to get in touch with this company.

Noni and its Wide Range of Medicinal Properties

If you start counting the medicinal properties of Noni, you will end with a huge list. Noni is among those nutritious fruits that have the capacity to lower the risk of some deadly diseases like cancer.

Noni also known as Morinda citrifolia is cultivated on the volcanic soil of Andaman Islands. Due to the influence of lava, this soil is free from insects and contains rich minerals required for better growth of noni plants.

In primitive days, noni was used as a red or yellow dye. It was also used as an ayurvedic medicine to cure several skin problems. Researchers conducted several experiments and found that there are n number of health benefiting properties hidden in this innovative fruit. The health supplements prepared from noni are available in freeze-dried powder, concentrated juice, and capsules.

Some Effective Uses of Noni:

1. Noni supplements serve as an effective natural antioxidant which works effectively in curing low immunity issues.

2. Athletes are recommended to take Indian noni juice regularly as it has energy boosting properties required for a strong body with better endurance

3. It acts as a pain relieving agent in arthritis. It reduces the inflammation caused due to chronic arthritis attack.

4. It controls cholesterol level.

5. It replenishes the vitamin C lost due to cough and cold

6. It helps in the process of digestion by clearing bowels and removing gastric ailments

7. It offers long term cell protection to human body

8. Noni extracts also works well in recovering several gynecological issues

Noni products are available on many retail stores. If you like to purchase one, make sure you buy the same from a reputed dealer.