RESUMEN
The impact of Morinda citrifolia (noni) juice on fertility and offspring health in three generations of ICR mice was evaluated. The authenticity of the source of noni juice in this study was determined by chemical analysis of known marker compounds. Mice were supplied with 5% noni juice at gestation (day 0) until weaning (21 days postpartum). This procedure was followed through three generations of offspring. Three generations of control mice were also evaluated. There were no intergroup differences in gestation and fertility indices or malformation rates. However, litter sizes of the noni group in the first (F1), second (F2), and third (F3) generations were, respectively, 29.3% (P < 0.01), 19.8% (P < 0.01) and 19.6% (P < 0.01) larger than corresponding controls. Despite larger litter sizes, there were no decreases in fetal weight in any generation of the noni group. Further, maternal health and offspring viability in the noni groups were equal to or greater than the controls. The results of this study suggest that authentic noni juice has no adverse effect on fertility and fetal development, consistent with previous two-generation studies of noni fruit from French Polynesia, Indonesia, and Hainan , China. On the contrary, noni juice appears to facilitate pregnancy and fetal development.