What Are the Dangers of Morinda Citrifolia?

Morinda citrifolia is a type of plant whose leaves, fruit, flowers, stem, bark and roots are used in alternative medicine. Despite its use to treat conditions such as diarrhea, indigestion, sore throat, sinus infections, urinary problems and coughs, morinda citrifolia has the potential to cause side effects in some users.

Identification

• Morinda citrifolia has the potential to cause allergic reactions in some patients, resulting in shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, swelling of your face and extremities and skin rashes, the Physicians Desktop Reference cautions.

Features

• When consumed as a food, morinda citrifolia is considered safe, RxList reports. The juice and extract of the plant pose the greater risk.

Drug Interactions

• When combined with hypertension drugs such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, morinda citrifolia has the potential to cause excessive levels of potassium in your bloodstream or hyperkalemia. Over time, hyperkalemia has the potential to damage your heart and cardiovascular system, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports.

Risks

• Morinda citrifolia may cause liver dysfunction or damage in some patients, RxList warns. This risk is raised when you are taking other drugs that may damage your liver, such as the seizure medication carbamazepine, the anti-fungal drug fluconazole and the cholesterol medication simvastatin.

Considerations

• If you are pregnant or breast feeding, avoid taking morinda citrifolia, because its possible effects upon your baby are unknown. If you have a history of hyperkalemia or kidney or liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take morinda citrifolia, RxList cautions.