Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) and its potential in the management of systemic metabolic disorder (SMD)

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) is a tropical plant containing over 200 phytochemicals, including terpenoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, and polysaccharides, with demonstrated biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Studies indicate that noni and its bioactive components, such as scopoletin, quercetin, rutin, ursolic acid, and polysaccharides, exert beneficial effects on systemic metabolic disorder (SMD). SMD is a complex syndrome involving multi-organ metabolic dysregulation, characterized by conditions such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidaemia, inflammation, heart failure, and kidney disease, which collectively increase morbidity and mortality. Given this significant disease burden, noni ameliorates obesity by regulating the gut microbiota, inhibiting lipases, and enhancing lipid metabolism; improves insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis via pathways like Nrf2/ARE and gut microbiota modulation; mitigates liver dysfunction by reducing lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation; lowers blood pressure through ACE inhibition and eNOS activation; improves dyslipidaemia by regulating lipoprotein metabolism; suppresses inflammation via NF-κB inhibition; and protects against heart and kidney damage by alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis. This review provides an overview of the bioactive components in noni and analyzes the in vitro and in vivo evidence regarding its bioactive compounds and their mechanisms, thus underscoring its potential as a natural intervention targeting multiple pathophysiological mechanisms for the treatment of SMD.