Morinda officinalis (ba ji tian, 巴戟天)

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Morinda officinalis (Radix Morindae Officinalis, ba ji
tian, 巴戟天, morinda root, hagekiten)

Morinda Officinalis can be found in East China. Traditionally, it has been used for
certain kidney and sexual conditions such as impotence, premature ejaculation,
frequent urination, incontinence, weakness, chronic inflammation of nerves, muscular
atrophy, and rheumatoid arthritis. It contains morindin, vitamin C,asperuloside
tetraacetate, resin, monotrpein, isoalizarins, rubiadian, rubiadin-1-methyl-ether,
anthraquinones, acid, simple sugars and some minerals. [4]

Research Studies

In test-tube, it showed its antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. It may benefit people
suffered from cancer. But, clinical studies are needed to prove this hypothesis and its
traditional health claims.

Korean researchers from Kyung Hee University demonstrated the antioxidant-actvities
of Morinda officinalis in a cell study. Morinda officinalis (Morindae radix) showed a
47.8% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect in cultured mouse TM3
cells with no significant cytotoxicity. [1]

Koo BS and co-workers from Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea reported
Radix Morindae officinalis is one of the key ingredients in a traditional herbal medicine
- Paeng-Jo-Yeon-Nyeon-Baek-Ja-In-Hwan. This medicine also contains Semen Biotae,
Fructus Torilis seu cnidii, Fructus Rubi, Herba Dendrobii, Radix Morindae officinalis,
Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Aspragi, Radix Polygalae, Radix Dipsaci, Ramulus Cinnamomi,
Rhizoma Acori graminei, Rhizoma Alismatis, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Radix Ginseng, Radix
Rehmanniae preparata, Fructus corni, Fructus Schisandrae and Herba Cistanches.
Pretreatment of hydrogen peroxide-damaged rat PC 12 cells with this medicine
increased the survival rate significantly. The researchers believe that this medicine has
potential benefit for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. [2]
Another group, but in the U.S.A., formulated a supplement called Equiguard. Equiguard
is claimed to contain Herba epimedium brevicornum Maxim (stem and leaves), Radix
morindae officinalis (root), Fructus rosa laevigatae michx (fruit), Rubus chingii Hu
(fruit), Schisandra chinensis (Turz.) Baill (fruit), Ligustrum lucidum Ait (fruit), Cuscuta
chinensis Lam (seed), Psoralea corylifolia L. (fruit), and Astragalus membranaceus
(Fisch.) Bge (root). The researchers claimed Equiguard significantly reduced cancer cell
growth, induced apoptosis, suppressed expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and
lowered intracellular and secreted prostate specific antigen (PSA), and almost
completely abolished colony forming abilities of prostate cancer cells in a cell study. [3]

Reference:

[1] Chang MS, Kim WN, Yang WM, Kim HY, Oh JH, Park SK. Cytoprotective effects of
Morinda officinalis against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in Leydig TM3
cells. Asian J Androl. 2008 Jul;10(4):667-74. [2] Koo BS, Kim YK, Park KS, Chung KH,
Kim CH. Attenuating effect of a traditional korean formulation, Paeng-Jo-Yeon-Nyeon-
Baek-Ja-In-Hwan (PJBH), on hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in PC12 cells. Phytother
Res. 2004 Jun;18(6):488-93. [3] Hsieh TC, Lu X, Guo J, Xiong W, Kunicki J,
Darzynkiewicz Z, Wu JM. Effects of herbal preparation Equiguard on hormone-
responsive and hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma cells: mechanistic studies.

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