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Morinda Lucida
Morinda lucida
Malaria treatment across West African traditional medicine
Morinda lucida contains anthraquinones, including rubiadin and lucidin, which demonstrate antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. These compounds appear to interfere with the malaria parasite's lifecycle, though the precise molecular mechanism requires further research. Laboratory studies confirm these antimalarial properties, supporting centuries of traditional use across West Africa. The plant's hepatoprotective compounds may also support liver function during infection recovery (Evidence Level C).
Can Morinda lucida interact with prescription medications?
Morinda lucida may interact with antidiabetic medications, potentially enhancing blood sugar-lowering effects and causing hypoglycemia. Due to its hepatotoxic potential with prolonged use, concurrent use with other liver-affecting medications, including acetaminophen and alcohol, should be avoided. Those taking prescription antimalarials should consult a healthcare provider before combining treatments. Always disclose all herbal supplements to your healthcare provider (Evidence Level C, Traditional).
What is the recommended dosage for Morinda lucida?
Traditional adult dosages include 5-10 grams of dried leaf prepared as a decoction, taken once or twice daily. Standardized extracts are typically dosed at approximately 300mg twice daily. Treatment duration should be limited due to hepatotoxicity concerns with long-term use. Dosage recommendations are based on traditional use and limited clinical evidence (Evidence Level C). Consult a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Is Morinda lucida safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Morinda lucida is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The anthraquinone compounds may stimulate uterine contractions or affect fetal development. Safety during breastfeeding has not been established, so nursing mothers should also avoid this herb. Women of childbearing age should use reliable contraception while taking Morinda lucida. Always consult a healthcare provider before using any herbal supplement during pregnancy (Evidence Level C, Traditional).
What are the side effects of Morinda lucida?
Common side effects include gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. The primary safety concern is hepatotoxicity with prolonged or excessive use, which may cause elevated liver enzymes or liver damage. These risks increase with long-term consumption beyond recommended durations. Discontinue use if jaundice, dark urine, or unexplained fatigue occurs. Regular liver function monitoring is advisable during extended use (Evidence Level C, Traditional).
What is Morinda lucida used for in traditional medicine?
Morinda lucida has been used extensively in West African traditional medicine for treating malaria, diabetes, and liver disorders including jaundice. Traditional healers also employ it for fever management and general wellness support. The plant's anthraquinone content provides documented antiplasmodial and potential anti-diabetic properties. While traditional use spans centuries, clinical evidence remains limited (Evidence Level C). Modern research continues to investigate these traditional applications.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Morinda lucida, also known as the brimstone tree, is an ethnomedicinal plant widely used in traditional African medicine for treating malaria, inflammation, and various fevers [PMID:33753141].
Background
Morinda lucida Benth belongs to the Rubiaceae family and is commonly referred to as the brimstone tree [PMID:33753141]. It is an indigenous plant used particularly in the African continent, with various parts including the stem bark, leaves, and roots utilized for medicinal purposes [PMID:33753141, PMID:20162091].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Africa for the management of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, typhoid fever, cancer, cognitive disorders, sickle cell disease, trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and various fevers [PMID:33753141]. It is specifically used in Southwest Nigeria for malaria treatment [PMID:35531230, PMID:20162091] and in Benin as a popular folk medicine [PMID:36986917].
Active compounds
Phytochemical analysis of leaf and bark extracts has revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, phenols, and flavonoids [PMID:35531230]. Other identified compounds include iridoids (such as ML2-2 and the tetracyclic iridoid ML-2-3), phytosterols, and triterpenes [PMID:36914035, PMID:35414765, PMID:30771146].
Mechanism of action
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects are mediated via agonism at kappa and delta opioid receptors, inhibition of COX-2, and elevation of CAT and SOD activities [PMID:36914035]. Leaf extracts may reduce nitric oxide and prostaglandin E-2 levels by affecting inducible nitric oxide synthase expression [PMID:34012871].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DMalaria
Leaf and bark extracts showed antiplasmodial activity in mice [PMID:35531230] and schizontocidal activity in P. berghei infections [PMID:2994441]. In vitro studies showed sensitivity of P. falciparum isolates to M. lucida [PMID:24555525].
Evidence DInflammation/Pain
Hydroethanolic leaf extract showed activity against localized and systemic inflammation in rats [PMID:34012871]; iridoids from the plant exhibited analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities [PMID:36914035].
Evidence DFever
Aqueous extracts of leaves produced a significant reduction in rectal temperature in albino rats [PMID:37545963].
Evidence DCognitive Impairment
Ethyl acetate extracts ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory deficits in mice [PMID:28480424].
Evidence DHepatotoxicity (Lead-induced)
Stem bark extract reversed lead nitrate-induced liver injury and improved hepatic histomorphology in Wistar rats [PMID:35691788, PMID:35800154].
Evidence D
Safety & adverse effects
Acute oral toxicity tests in rats indicated the leaf extract is non-lethal at 6400 mg/kg and has no toxic effect on liver and kidney functions [PMID:22574294]. However, long-term administration (13 weeks) of leaf extract in male rats significantly reduced sperm motility, viability, and epididymal sperm counts, and caused damage to seminiferous tubules [PMID:16281089].
Pregnancy & lactation
M. lucida extract reduced the contractility of isolated uterine smooth muscle in both pregnant and non-pregnant mice [PMID:18379632].
Drug interactions
A decoction containing M. lucida (MAMA decoction) was found to increase the maximum concentrations of amodiaquine in mice, suggesting a pharmacokinetic herb-drug interaction [PMID:31642009].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with some review articles (Level C). There is a lack of human clinical trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 33753141 (2021) — Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae): A review of its ethnomedicine, phytochemistry and pharmacology. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 29411225 (2018) — Haematological, biochemical and organ changes in broiler chickens fed varying levels of Morinda lucida (brimstone) leaf meal supplementation in the diets. · Tropical animal health and production
3.PMID: 21227669 (2012) — Attenuation of cyclophosphamide-induced neurotoxicity in rat by yellow dye extract from root of Brimstone tree (Morinda lucida). · Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie
4.PMID: 35531230 (2022) — Antiplasmodial activity of Morinda lucida Benth. Leaf and bark extracts against Plasmodium berghei infected mice. · Saudi journal of biological sciences
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Yellow dye extract from the root attenuated oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in the brain of rats [PMID:21227669].
— Morinda lucida stem bark reversed the pattern and extent of lead nitrate-induced liver injury in Wistar rats.
· Morphologie : bulletin de l'Association des anatomistes
6.PMID: 19619631 (2009) — Mutagenic screening of some commonly used medicinal plants in Nigeria. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
7.PMID: 37545963 (2023) — Comparative study of antipyretic potency of extracts of morinda lucida leaves and fruits of capsicum frutescens in albino rats. · African health sciences
8.PMID: 37627598 (2023) — From Plants to Psycho-Neurology: Unravelling the Therapeutic Benefits of Bioactive Compounds in Brain Disorders. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
9.PMID: 20162091 (2006) — Medicinal plants useful for malaria therapy in Okeigbo, Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria. · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
10.PMID: 28153468 (2017) — Anti-malarial synergy of secondary metabolites from Morinda lucida Benth. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
11.PMID: 24555525 (2014) — In vitro studies on the sensitivity pattern of Plasmodium falciparum to anti-malarial drugs and local herbal extracts. · Malaria journal
12.PMID: 34012871 (2021) — Anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of ethanolic leaf extract of Morinda lucida Benth. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
13.PMID: 35992611 (2022) — Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Morinda lucida leaf extract and evaluation of its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. · Chemicke zvesti
14.PMID: 41883085 (2026) — Morinda lucida Leaf Metabolites Ameliorate Aluminium Chloride-Mediated Chronic Inflammation and Modulate Proteins-Linked to Erectile Dysfunction in Rat Testes. · Chemistry & biodiversity
15.PMID: 28480424 (2017) — COGNITIVE-ENHANCING PROPERTIES OF MORINDA LUCIDA (RUBIACEAE) AND PELTOPHORUM PTEROCARPUM (FABACEAE) IN SCOPOLAMINE-INDUCED AMNESIC MICE. · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
16.PMID: 35414765 (2022) — In vitro fertilization using sperm activated by ML-2-3 isolated from Morinda lucida Bentham leaves. · Reproductive medicine and biology
17.PMID: 36914035 (2023) — Iridoids from Morinda lucida, (Benth.) Rubiaceae, produced analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities via agonism at the kappa and delta opioid receptors, inhibition of COX-2 besides elevation of CAT and SOD activities. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
18.PMID: 21870639 (2011) — Sub-Saharan Rubiaceae: a review of their traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities. · Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
19.PMID: 22574294 (2010) — Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity evaluation in Wistar albino rats exposed to Morinda lucida leaf extract. · North American journal of medical sciences
20.PMID: 2994441 (1985) — Screening of Morinda lucida leaf extract for antimalarial action on Plasmodium berghei berghei in mice. · African journal of medicine and medical sciences
21.PMID: 35800154 (2022) — Lead nitrate toxicity: its effects on hepatic extracellular matrix fibers, filamentous cytoskeleton and the mitigative potentials of Morinda lucida extract. · Veterinary and animal science
22.PMID: 41345144 (2025) — Antifungal activities of Morinda lucida root extracts against Lasiodiplodia theobromae for post harvest disease management. · Scientific reports
23.PMID: 36986917 (2023) — Ethnopharmacological Value and Biological Activities via Antioxidant and Anti-Protein Denaturation Activity of Morinda lucida Benth and Momordica charantia L. Leaves Extracts from Benin. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
24.PMID: 16281089 (2005) — Antispermatogenic activity of Morinda lucida extract in male rats. · Asian journal of andrology
25.PMID: 30771146 (2019) — Phytosterols and triterpenes from Morinda lucida Benth. exhibit binding tendency against class I HDAC and HDAC7 isoforms. · Molecular biology reports
26.PMID: 27003969 (2016) — Preventive (myoglobin, transferrin) and scavenging (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) anti-oxidative properties of raw liquid extract of Morinda lucida leaf in the traditional treatment of Plasmodium infection. · Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine
27.PMID: 18379632 (2007) — Morinda lucida reduces contractility of isolated uterine smooth muscle of pregnant and non-pregnant mice. · Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria
28.PMID: 31642009 (2020) — Influence of MAMA decoction, an Herbal Antimalarial, on the Pharmacokinetics of Amodiaquine in Mice. · European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
29.PMID: 32455050 (2020) — Natural Products as Sources of Antimalarial Drugs: Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies. · Scientifica
30.PMID: 28645782 (2017) — Cysteine-stabilised peptide extract of Morinda lucida (Benth) leaf exhibits antimalarial activity and augments antioxidant defense system in P. berghei-infected mice. · Journal of ethnopharmacology