Potential Interactions of Active Compounds of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) on Targets Involved in Human Diseases

Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is well known as a plant with therapeutic potential and is also attractive to the food and cosmetic industries. Traditional medicine supports its use, mainly for the treatment of metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation but also for certain types of cancer. Noni has been the subject of considerable interest within the scientific community due to its purported health benefits. However, despite its growing popularity and extensive traditional use, significant gaps remain in the empirical understanding of its properties, mechanisms, and potential applications. To understand its biological activity, particular attention has been given to several chemical compounds present in its leaves and fruits, as they have been identified as bioactive agents. Moreover, several studies support the idea that specific flavonoids and anthraquinones from noni act on enzymes and transporters associated with glucose and lipid metabolism in humans. Its involvement in cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, and inflammatory regulation across several high-burden diseases expands the potential medical applications of noni. This narrative review presents the current state of knowledge, highlighting preclinical studies that suggest the mechanisms of action underlying the observed effects, including theoretical approaches proposing specific interactions between noni compounds and proteins associated with human diseases as potential therapeutic targets. It also identifies areas where information remains insufficient and proposes future research directions for pharmacological applications, including the need for additional clinical studies and more comprehensive pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluations.