No authoritative studies found on noni properties
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No authoritative studies found on noni properties
- Food and Drug Department
Stabroek News
February 26, 2000
The Food and Drug Department is cautioning the public that to date it has not encountered authoritative scientific studies on the noni fruit that can corroborate the various medicinal properties accredited to it.
In a release on Thursday in the wake of the widespread use of noni and the recent controversy surrounding it, the Department said it has also not uncovered toxicology data that would warrant restricting the fruit's use as a herbal preparation.
Use of the noni fruit came to the fore following a recent case where a man was hospitalised after an apparent unintended overdose.
The release noted that the plant has been used for generations in the folk medicine of some Asian and Pacific countries and was recently introduced in the United States (US) as a food supplement, usually in the form of a juice, dehydrated capsule or in a nutrient rich encapsuled form.
These preparations, the release said, are said to be effective in the treatment of various diseases and ailments, which include inter alia cancer, diabetes, digestive respiratory depression and obesity. This, it said, has led to a sudden increase in the fruit's use in Guyana.
The release said that in Guyana the noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit is known as pain-killer and yaw-weed and is used in local folk medicine. Its leaves are macerated with or without cow-foot bush (Pothomorphe peltata), mixed with coconut oil and applied externally for the relief of pain of the joints including arthritic and rheumatoid pains.
The Government Analyst Food & Drug Department release said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its "Guidelines for the Assessment of Herbal Medicines" 1991, advises that no specific regulatory action should be undertaken against products traditionally used without demonstrated harm. It also cautions that prolonged and apparently erratic use of herbal substances are insecure testimony to their safety.
The release stated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US does not monitor herbal preparations, but usually allows their use as food supplements. These products are not approved for medicinal use and therapeutic claims are not encouraged.
It was further stated that a major concern of these preparations is their lack of purity and the concentration of therapeutic constituents that do not allow for rational and prescribed dosage. In addition, the release said that the herbal remedies may contain a number of toxic constituents as a consequence of non-standardised methods of preparation.
The adverse drug reactions and drug interactions in herbal remedies have not been clinically researched and documented and could lead to a number of deleterious effects to the consumer. As a further precaution, herbal preparations should not be taken in conjunction with conventional medicines.
"Imported herbal food supplements are also known to contain added active pharmacological substances, such as steroids and other stimulants, thus the need for further caution," the release said. The department is advising all persons using herbal remedies such as the noni juice treatment to consult with their physician.
Persons who observe any adverse reactions after using the preparations of the noni plant are asked to visit their doctor and also contact the department at telephone numbers 63711, 68337, 56482 and 68795, the release added.
