Noni Fruit Juice for Arthritis: A Scientific Perspective on Therapeutic Benefits

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By Dr.Anupama.K.M. BAMS, MD (panchakarma)

BExpertise in panchakarma therapies and the management of Joint disorders ,PCOS, Thyroid diseases,Gynacological problems,bronchial asthama, neurodegenerative disease. lifestyle diseases such as obesity , diabetes management.

noni juice benefits for arthritis

A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO THE POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF NONI FRUIT JUICE IN ARTHRITIS

 A major worldwide health problem that affects a lot of people is arthritis. In the next ten years, arthritis is predicted to rank as the fourth most prevalent cause of physical impairment in India. It is estimated that Indians have up to 15 times the prevalence of knee arthritis compared to those in Western countries.

amrith noni for arthritis

 

Arthritis is defined as an acute or chronic inflammation in the joint. Numerous symptoms, including pain, stiffness, reduced flexibility, reduced range of movement and joint abnormalities may be present. Arthritis may affect people of different ages, ethnicities, and gender. Arthritis can take many distinct forms.

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS:

  1. Osteoarthritis – Degeneration of joint cartilage and bone abnormalities
  2. Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis – Autoimmune diseases presenting with other systemic symptoms.
  3. Gout arthritis – crystal deposition in the joints.
  4. Septic arthritis – life threatening bacterial infection in joints needs emergency treatment.
  5. Others - Autoimmune connective tissue disorders such systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren syndrome, myositis, inflammatory bowel disease etc., can also coexist with inflammatory arthritis.

ACTION OF NONI ON ARTHRITIS:

  • Osteoarthritis - The main risk factors for osteoarthritis include aging, injury to joint, obesity and more predominant in females.
  • Main symptoms of OA are Joint Pain mainly weight bearing joints like knee joint, swelling, stiffness and difficulty in movement of joints.

ACTION OF NONI IN OSTEO ARTHRITIS:

  • Noni contains scopoletin and epicatechin, which help to suppress osteoarthritis progression against joint cartilage degradation and inflammation.
  • Cox 2 inhibitors provide relief in symptoms with reduced GI side effects .
  • Vitamin A,C and E are the major antioxidants present in noni which provides protection against oxidative damage.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – is an autoimmune disease, combination of genetic variables (HLADRB1 and others) and environmental factors (smoking) causes immune system activation and malfunction, resulting in inflammation in RA.
  • Common symptoms of RA include morning stiffness of the affected joints for more than 30 minutes, fatigue, fever, weight loss, joints that are tender, swollen and warm and rheumatoid nodules. 

ACTION OF NONI IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:

  • Research shows that RA produces five times as much free radicals. A high-quality, well-balanced dietary supplement can help flush the body of free radicals.
  • Noni is a powerful and perfect antioxidant that neutralizes the effects of free radicals, allowing the body to restore itself to proper balance leading to health and well-being.
  • It contains many different synergistic antioxidant nutrients, including the basic vitamins A, C and E. Drinking Noni every day helps combat damaging effects of free radicals.
  • Noni is the best source of nutritional supplements and a potent immune modulator.
  • Patients with RA are low in histidine which is a amino acid responsible for the production of histamine. noni provides histidine which reduces symptoms of RA.
  • Gout Arthritis - persistent hyperuricemia (abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood) causes uric acid build-up in joints, which leads to joint inflammation. The majority of gout patients are unable to excrete all of the uric acid generated by purine metabolism. Male sex, advanced age, chronic renal disease, alcoholism, and certain medications, such as diuretics, all constitute risk factors for gout.
  • It is characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot, and swollen joints, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crystals.

ACTION OF NONI IN  GOUTY ARTHRITIS:

  • Noni fruit juice has inhibitory effect on Xanthine oxidase enzymes. Xanthine oxidase Inhibitor works by inhibiting uric acid synthesis.
  • Noni contains Glycine has the ability to increase the excretion of uric acid from the body. Some anthraquinones reduce the growth rate of urinary crystals.
  • It contains Vitamin C which is associated with decreased serum uric acid as it increases GFR of kidney.
  • Ursolic acid being strongly anti-inflammatory is responsible for the reduction in symptoms.

Several research studies reported that  the  noni fruit possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, tranquilizing activities and it is also efficient antioxidant and immune modulator.

   ALSO READ : Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

  • The pain killing effect of the Noni extract was 75% as effective as morphine sulphate without the toxic side effects of that drug. 
  • Scopoletin is a strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-oxidant which has pain reliving effect.
  • Noni acts as selective COX 2 inhibitor. The cox 2 enzyme is responsible for inflammation, pain and fever.