Ferment this: the transformation of Noni, a traditional Polynesian medicine (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae)

• Published in: Economic botany Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 51 - 68
• Main Authors: Dixon, A.R, McMillen, H, Etkin, N.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg The New York Botanical Garden Press 1999; Bronx, NY Springer; New York Botanical Garden Press; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: bark; Biological and medical sciences; botany; Capsules; chemical constituents of plants; Economic botany; efficacy; fermentation; flowers; Food industry; Fruits; Garlic; General pharmacology; Genetic transformation; geographical variation; habitats; health foods; Herbal medicine; Juices; leaves; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Medicinal plants; Minority & ethnic groups; Morinda citrifolia; Natural & organic foods; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plants; Polynesian studies; provenance; roots; Rubiaceae; Traditional medicine; Hawaii; Polynesia; Pacific Ocean Islands; Oceania; Pharmacopeia; Pharmacological activity; Tropical zone; Fermentation; Medicinal plant; Marketing; Ethnopharmacology; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Formulation; Angiospermae; Rubiaceae; Spermatophyta; Medical application
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02860792

Research on the use of plants and other complementary medicines in Hawai'i drew our attention to Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae). Noni, as it is commonly known, is representative of both currently popular medicinal plants in Hawai'i and the pharmacopoeias of traditional cultures of this polyethnic population. It is also prominent among the increasing number of botanicals currently promoted by the "herbal" and "health foods/supplements" industry. Noni is unique in view of the large number of medical indications that characterize claims for its efficacy, the little that is known about its pharmacologic potential compared with other popularly used botanicals, and its rapidly evolving commercial success. This paper explores how the cultural novelty of noni, in conjunction with its equivocal pharmacology, contribute to its explosive market success in contemporary Hawai'i, and worldwide. /// I kō mākou noi'i 'ana e pili ana i nā lā'au lapa'au o Hawai'i nei, ua hoihoi loa mākou i ka noni (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae). He mea ho'ohālikelike maika'i ka noni o nā lā'au lapa'au ma'amau o Hawai'i i kēia mau lā, a me nā lā'au ku'una o kekahi mau po'e 'ē a'e e noho ana ma'anei nō ho'i. Kaulana ka noni mawaena o nā lā'au ho'opi'i 'ia e ka 'oihana "'ai olakino." Lua 'ole ka noni no nā mea penei: nā 'ano ma'i he nui "ho'ōla" 'ia e ka noni; ka 'ike hemahema o kona mau kemika; a me kona holomua 'imi kālā. I kēia pepa, hō'ike mākou i ka mana'o hou e pili ana i kēia lā'au "ku'una", kona kemika kākālule, a me kona makemake nui 'ia i kēia au ma Hawai'i a kahi 'ē.