Add 'Noni' with medicines for faster cure: WNRF

Chennai, Oct 27 (UNI) If you are a diabetic or suffering from any other ailment, you can make it a habit to take any product of 'Noni', a herbal plant of medicinal value.

Noni, also known as Indian Mulberry, is an indegenous plant variety with a lot of medicinal properties. But unfortunately, the country is not 'exploiting' its merits, experts said at a press conference here.

World Noni Research Foundation (WNRF) Chairman Kirthi Singh said the Foundation would make comprehensive efforts to convince the people of the plant's clinical values and agricultural merits. The plant with all its parts--roots, bark, fruits, stem and leaves-- being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal antitumour and antiinflammatory, is unique, he said.

''Noni, with synergetic powers, is applicable in all disciplines of medicine--allopathy, ayurveda and homeopathy--to have better results.'' ''The properties in it make the human cells more receptive to medicines. It makes the cell membrane supple,'' Mr Sing said.

''It is now grown in various parts of the country by contract farmers. The plant, which proved its survival instinct during the tsunami in the Andaman Nicobar Islands, is also cultivated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

Considering its theraputic values, the Centre should recognise the Indian Mulberry as a medicinal and horticultutral plant and allot funds to encourage farming, Dr Singh said.

As part of extensive research work, the WNRF would be associating with various universities and institutes, Health India Laboratories Chairman P I Peter said.

''The plant being anti-oxidant, can improve human metabolism and immune system. The vitamins, enzymes and anti-oxidants in the 'right combination' and in an 'absorbable' manner, make it an immune system modulator,'' he added.

'Noni' products come in the range of herbal capsules, noni-ayurveda medicines, food products and drinks.

UNI