Chemical Constituents of Morinda citrifolia Roots Exhibit Hypoglycemic Effects in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), known as "noni," is a small tree that grows widely across Polynesia. In Japan, it is called "Yaeyama-aoki" and grows in Okinawa Prefecture. In Polynesia, M. citrifolia has traditionally been used for antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmin, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects.1) Furthermore, "noni juice," which is made from the fruit of this plant, is today widely drunk for its purported ability to prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiopathy and cerebral apoplexy caused by arteriosclerosis. In our previous study, six lignanes which inhibit the LDL oxidation process leading to arteriosclerosis were isolated from the fruit of M. citrifolia.2) Other pharmacological studies of M. citrifolia reported that iridoids isolated from the leaves of this plant inhibited UVB-induced Activator Protein-1 activity 3) and the fruit of this plant prolonged the life span of C57BL/6 mice infected with Lewis lung carcinoma.4) The above reports suggest that M. citrifolia leaves and fruits exhibit some anticancer effects. In addition, M. citrifolia root exhibited an analgesic effect. 5)During the course of our search for natural products capable of preventing lifestyle-related diseases, we have investigated the ability of the chemical constituents of M. citrifolia roots to improve hyperglycemia or diabetes. In this study, we used streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, which is known as an insulin-deficiency model, to demonstrate the effects of M. citrifolia roots on blood glucose levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant MaterialThe roots of M. citrifolia were collected at Okinawa in August 2004. A voucher specimen has been retained in our laboratory.Animals Male ddY mice weighing ca. 30 g (5 weeks old) were obtained from SLC (Osaka, Japan). The animals were housed at a temperature of 23-24°C with a 12 h light-dark cycle (lights on 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). Food and water were available ad libitum. The present study was conducted in accordance with the Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, adopted by the Japanese Pharmacological Society.Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Diabetic Model Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 200 mg/kg STZ (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.) prepared in 0.1 N citrate buffer adjusted to pH 4.3. Only mice with plasma glucose levels greater than 400 mg/dl were considered as diabetic.Measurement of Blood Glucose Levels The plasma glucose levels in the mice were measured using the Glucose Pilot (Aventir Biotech, CA, U.S.A.) in blood samples obtained from tail vein at 0 or 5 h after a single administration of MeOH extract and CHCl 3 , EtOAc, n-BuOH and H 2 O soluble phases of M. citrifolia roots (each at 3 g/kg, oral route, p.o.).General Procedures Optical rotations were measured using a Jasco DIP-1000 digital polarimeter. IR and UV spectra were measured on a Shimadzu FT-IR 8300 infrared spectrometer and a Hitachi U-3000 spectrometer, respectively. NMR ...

Melanogenesis Inhibitory Activities of Iridoid-, Hemiterpene-, and Fatty Acid-glycosides from the Fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni)

“…Its UV spectrum showed an absorption maximum similar to that of asperulosidic acid ( ) 8,9) with a maximum at 233 nm, suggesting the presence of a,b-unsaturated carbonyl moiety. The IR spectrum indicated the presence of hydroxy (3434 cm -1 ) and carboxyl (1635 cm -1 ) groups.…”

“…The IR spectrum indicated the presence of hydroxy (3434 cm -1 ) and carboxyl (1635 cm -1 ) groups. The 1 H NMR spectrum displayed signals at d H 7.38 (1H, s), corresponding to an enol ether system conjugated with a carboxyl group, and at d H 5.84 (1H, br s), due to a sp 2 methine proton of a double bond in the five-membered ring, as found in various iridoid glycosides [7][8][9][15][16][17] . In the 1 13 C NMR spectrum of were very similar to those of 6-O-methyl deacetylasperulosidic acid methyl ester 16) , except that the absence of an ester methoxy signal at C-11, suggesting that possesses the structure, 6-O-methyl deacetylasperulosidic acid.…”

“…Identification of the following 11 compounds was performed by 1 H NMR and MS comparison with the corresponding compounds in the literature: asperulosidic acid ( ) [7][8][9] , deacetylasperulosidic acid ( ) [7][8][9][10] , scandoside methyl ester ( ) 10 7,14) , and 2',6 …”

Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) and Low Dose Aspirin Prevent Apoptotic Cell Death and Oxidative Stress on Isoproterenol Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats

“…Noni has been traditionally used for its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelmintic, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing effects. Furthermore, noni juice is currently widely consumed for its purported ability to prevent various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cardiomyopathy, and cerebral apoplexy caused by arteriosclerosis (4). Kamiya et al (5) studied the effects of the fruits of noni in preventing arteriosclerosis.…”

AVALIAÇÃO E QUANTIFICAÇÃO DO TEOR DE FENÓIS DAS PARTES DA Morinda citrifolia Linn (Noni

“…Na Polinésia é utilizada como antiviral, antifúngico, antitumoral, analgésico, anti-hipertensivo e antiinflamatório (KAMIYA, 2008).…”