Composição e propriedades de extratos de Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.)

Abstract

The fruit of Morinda citrifolia L, known as Noni, has become popular in Brazil and its pulp juice has been used for medicinal purposes. Thus, information about its composition and effects on health are constant themes in Research and Scientific Articles. Among the effects already observed and attributed to different parts of this plant are those related to its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and hypotensive activity. Literature data indicate that the main components observed in extracts of its fruits are alkaloids, phenols/tannins, coumarins, anthraquinones, saponins, flavonoids, and triterpenes, which have the properties attributed to therapeutic, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulant action. Extractions of the Noni fruit pulp were carried out in three different solvents, namely: distilled water, ethyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate, which have different polarities. The proportions used to carry out the extractions were 50 g of pulp with 100 mL of the respective solvent. The mixture remained at rest, at room temperature, and protected from light for * seven (7) days, after which it was filtered through a sintered plate funnel, without vacuum. Molecular absorption spectra in the UV-visible region were obtained and presented as λmax values of 330 nm (for distilled water), 345 nm (ethyl alcohol), and 335 nm (ethyl acetate). The pH of the aqueous extract was 4.12. The values of total titratable acidity were determined by the Classic method for the three extracts and the Potentiometric method for the aqueous extract, and it was 2.94% for the ethyl alcohol extract, 3.04% for the ethyl acetate extract, and 3.1% (classical method) and 3.8% (Potentiometric method, aqueous extract). Another parameter that was determined for the ethyl alcohol and aqueous extracts was the acidity constant value, which was 1.16x10-8 and 4.16x10-9 , respectively.