Iridoids found to be stable in Tahitian Noni Bioactive Beverages: TNI

Mar 29 2010

Tahitian Noni International (TNI) announced that, unlike the flavonoids and carotenoids in major superfruit juices that degrade rapidly, the iridoids in Tahitian Noni^® Bioactive Beverages™ are found to be extremely stable, even after processing.

“The most celebrated nutrients in food plants are flavonoids and carotenoids. These nutrients have great potential when eaten fresh, but when they undergo processing and pasteurization, they degrade rapidly and fail to deliver their promised benefits.”

Iridoids possess a simple chemical structure that makes them inherently strong in stressful environments. As a result, iridoids retain their chemical composition even when exposed to oxygen, light, and heat—activities that occur during processing and pasteurization that often degrade or break down weaker chemical compounds. The same chemical composition also means that iridoids remain stable over long periods of storage. This stability explains why noni iridoids retain virtually full potency from tree to the bottle and have a guaranteed shelf life of at least two years.

Flavonoids and carotenoids are most bioavailable when eaten fresh. After just four months of storage at room temperature, the flavonoids in açaí pulp lose up to 80% of their stability. Rapid flavonoid degradation in açaí and mangosteen juices explains why there is no significant research to substantiate açaí-based and mangosteen-based product claims.

“What makes noni really unique is its phytochemical makeup,” says Jeff Wasden, TNI’s vice president of Global Marketing. “The most celebrated nutrients in food plants are flavonoids and carotenoids. These nutrients have great potential when eaten fresh, but when they undergo processing and pasteurization, they degrade rapidly and fail to deliver their promised benefits.”

Wasden says noni is much different. “The 12 different iridoids in noni retain their potency after processing because the iridoid bonds don’t crack under pressure. They stand up to extremes. That means that, unlike our superfruit competitors, you’re getting all the promised health benefits of the noni fruit when you drink Tahitian Noni Bioactive Beverages.”