Chronic toxicity evaluation of Morinda citrifolia fruit and leaf in mice

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#animals #biomarkers #chemical-and-drug-induced-liver-injury #dose-response-relationship-drug #female

Chronic toxicity evaluation of Morinda citrifolia fruit and leaf in mice

Mohamad et al., 2017 | Regul Toxicol Pharmacol | Other

Citation

Mohamad Shalan Nor Aijratul Asikin, Mustapha Noordin M, Mohamed Suhaila. Chronic toxicity evaluation of Morinda citrifolia fruit and leaf in mice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2017-Feb;83:46-53. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.11.022

Abstract

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) leaf and fruit are used as food and medicine. This report compares the chronic toxicity of Noni fruit and edible leaf water extracts (two doses each) in female mice. The 6 months study showed the fruit extract produced chronic toxicity effects at the high dose of 2 mg/ml drinking water, evidenced through deteriorated liver histology (hepatocyte necrosis), reduced liver length, increased liver injury marker AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and albumin reduction, injury symptoms (hypoactivity, excessive grooming, sunken eyes and hunched posture) and 40% mortality within 3 months. This hepatotoxicity results support the six liver injury reports in humans which were linked to chronic noni fruit juice consumption. Both doses of the leaf extracts demonstrated no observable toxicity. The hepatotoxicity effects of the M. citrifolia fruit extract in this study is unknown and may probably be due to the anthraquinones in the seeds and skin, which had potent quinone reductase inducer activity that reportedly was 40 times more effective than l-sulforaphane. This report will add to current data on the chronic toxicity cases of Morinda citrifolia fruit. No report on the chronic toxicity of Morinda citrifolia fruit in animal model is available for comparison.

Key Findings

No report on the chronic toxicity of Morinda citrifolia fruit in animal model is available for comparison.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Fruit
  • Grooming
  • Humans
  • Liver
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Morinda
  • Motor Activity
  • Necrosis
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Leaves
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Risk Assessment
  • Solvents
  • Time Factors
  • Toxicity Tests, Chronic
  • Water

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Other
  • Publication Types: Journal Article
  • Vertical: noni

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-12