Mechanisms of action of biomolecules extracted from Morinda citrifolia leaves to improve endurance and physical performance

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Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as noni, has been first introduced to the market by mid-1990's as a "superfruit". It has since been extensively studied for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-angiogenicproperties. The trees grow in tropical climates especially in Hawaii, French Polynesia, Fiji, Costa Rica andSoutheast Asia where they can reach up to 10 meters in height. To facilitate the farming and maximize theirproduction, there are different companies in some countries (USA (Hawaii) and Costa Rica for example) thatown plantations of noni trees. All over the year, to make the harvest of fruits easier for the workforce, farmershave to prune trees, leaving lots of leaves on the ground. The beneficial effects of the fruit properties forgeneral health are well established. In contrast, the potential beneficial effects of extract prepared from theleaves, used as tea since centuries, have been poorly studied. It was recently shown that supplementing micewith an extract of noni leaves for 4 weeks resulted in an increased endurance and physical performance.However, the mechanisms of action of these supplements remain unknown. Founded in 2004 and based inRimouski (Québec), InnoVactiv is a Canadian company involved in the development and commercialization ofbioactive ingredients from natural origin to serve the dietary supplement and cosmetic industries. InnoVactivhas recently secured an exclusive supply agreement with a Hawaiian company for dried noni leaves anddeveloped an extraction method optimized to maximize the yield of the bioactive components of Noni leaves.The specific problem of InnoVactiv is that its team does not have the knowledge, expertise and equipment todissect the mechanisms responsible for the increased endurance and performance induced by the Noni leavesextract. This understanding will be critical for the company to further optimize the method of extraction andpreserve the bioactive molecules responsible for its effect. To solve this problem, the company is partneringwith Dr. Gouspillou, an expert in the field of muscle physiology and mitochondrial biology with access to afully equipped laboratory to investigate the mechanisms of action of none leaves extract.