Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting Monoamine Oxidase and/or Catechol-O-Methyltransferase in living organisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and compositions involving the inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase and/or Catechol-O-Methyltransferase using processed  Morinda citrifolia L.  plant products.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/552,313, filed Mar. 10, 2004, entitled “Methods and Compositions for Inhibiting Monoamine Oxidase.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting Monoamine Oxidase and/or Catechol-O-Methyltransferase in living organisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and compositions involving the inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase and/or Catechol-O-Methyltransferase using processed  Morinda citrifolia L.  plant products.  
         [0004]     2. Background Information  
         [0005]     Maintaining mental and neurological health is crucial to the health and well being of many living organisms, including human beings. Various drugs are presently used to treat mental and neurological disorders, many drugs of which are designed to inhibit the Monoamine Oxidase enzyme (“MAO”) and/or Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (“COMT”). For example drugs used to treat various types of mental depression are designed to inhibit MAO type A. Additionally, drugs used to treat Parkinson&#39;s and other neurodegenerative diseases are designed to inhibit MAO type B. Accordingly, the development of a safe and natural MAO and/or COMT inhibitor is desirable.  
       SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and compositions for inhibiting the MAO enzyme and/or COMT without causing negative side effects of known MAO and/or COMT inhibitors.  
         [0007]     The present invention comprises Morinda citrifolia compositions, each of which include one or more processed  Morinda citrifolia L.  products. The  Morinda citrifolia  product preferably include  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice, which juice is preferably present in an amount capable of maximizing the inhibition of the MAO enzyme and/or COMT without causing negative side effects when the composition is administered to a mammal.  
         [0008]     Methods of the present invention comprise the administration and/or consumption of  Morinda citrifolia  extracts in amounts that inhibit MAO enzyme and/or COMT in mammals. Methods of the present invention also include the obtaining of  Morinda citrifolia  compositions and extracts, including  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice and concentrates thereof.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is to provide methods of inhibiting the activity of the MAO enzyme and/or COMT without causing the negative secondary effects caused by known MAO inhibitors and/or COMT.  
         [0010]     Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide an orally administered MAO inhibitor capable of use during pregnancy.  
         [0011]     A further embodiment of the present invention is to provide an orally administered composition capable of inhibiting MAO and/or COMT activity in patients that do not respond to known MAO and/or COMT inhibitors.  
         [0012]     Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide an over-the-counter composition for inhibiting MAO and/or COMT activity in mammals without requiring a prescription.  
         [0013]     Some embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and/or compositions for treating mammals comprising administering a formulation containing at least one processed  Morinda citrifolia  product present in an amount by weight between about 0.1 and 99 percent, wherein the formulation is adapted to affect a mammal in a way comprising: inhibiting Monoamine Oxidase, preventing a complication of a primary disorder in patients wherein said complication results from Monoamine Oxidase activity, treating a primary disorder in patients wherein said disorder results from Monoamine Oxidase activity, preventing a primary disorder in patients wherein said disorder results from Monoamine Oxidase activity, inhibiting Catechol-O-Methyltransferase, treating neurological disorders, preventing neurological disorders, treating schizophrenia, preventing schizophrenia, treating Alzheimer&#39;s, preventing Alzheimer&#39;s, treating Parkinson&#39;s, preventing Parkinson&#39;s, treating neurodegenerative disorders, preventing neurodegenerative disorders, treating depression, preventing depression.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The following description of embodiments of the methods and compositions of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of some embodiments, including the preferred embodiments, of the present invention.  
         [0015]     The present invention comprises compositions and methods for inhibiting MAO and/or COMT activity in mammals, including humans, and compositions and methods for reducing levels of undesirable cholesterol.  
         [0016]     The present invention comprises  Morinda citrifolia  compositions, each of which include one or more processed products from the  Morinda citrifolia L.  plant. The  Morinda citrifolia  products preferably include  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice, which juice is preferably present in an amount capable of maximizing the inhibition of MAO and/or COMT without causing negative side effects when the composition is administered to a mammal. Extracts of the  Morinda citrifolia  plant may include one more parts of the  Morinda citrifolia L.  plant, including but not limited to the: fruit, including the fruit juice and fruit pulp and concentrates thereof, leaves, including leaf extract, seeds, including the seed oil, flowers, roots, bark, and wood.  
         [0017]     Some compositions of the present invention comprise  Morinda citrifolia  extracts present between about 1 and 5 percent of the weight of the total composition. Other such percentage ranges include: about 0.1 and 50 percent; about 85 and 99 percent; about 5 and 10 percent; about 10 and 15 percent; about 15 and 20 percent; about 20 and 50 percent; and about 50 and 100 percent.  
         [0018]     In some  Morinda citrifolia  compositions of the present invention,  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice evaporative concentrate is present, the evaporative concentrate having a concentration strength (described further herein) between about 8 and 12 percent. Other such percentage ranges include: about 4 and 12 percent; and about 0.5 and 12 percent.  
         [0019]     In some  Morinda citrifolia  compositions of the present invention,  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice freeze concentrate is present, the freeze concentrate having a concentration strength (described further herein) between about 8 and 12 percent. Other such percentage ranges include: about 4 and 12 percent; and about 0.5 and 12 percent.  
         [0020]     One or more  Morinda citrifolia  products can be further combined with other ingredients or carriers (discussed further herein) to produce a pharmaceutical  Morinda citrifolia  product or composition (“pharmaceutical” herein referring to any drug or product designed to improve the health of living organisms such as human beings or mammals, including nutraceutical products) that is also a  Morinda citrifolia  of the present invention. Examples of pharmaceutical  Morinda citrifolia  products may include, but are not limited to, orally administered solutions and intravenous solutions.  
         [0021]     Methods of the present invention comprise the administration and/or consumption of  Morinda citrifolia  compositions in amounts that inhibit the MAO enzyme and/or COMT in mammals. It will be understood that specific dosage levels of any compositions that will be administered to any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the patient&#39;s age, body weight, general health, gender, diet, time of administration, route of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the severity of the particular diseases undergoing therapy or in the process of incubation.  
         [0022]     Methods of the present invention also include the obtaining of  Morinda citrifolia  compositions and extracts, including  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice and concentrates thereof. It will be noted that some of the embodiments of the present invention contemplate obtaining the  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice pre-made. Various methods of the present invention shall be described in more detail further herein.  
         [0023]     The following disclosure of the present invention is grouped into subheadings. The utilization of the subheadings is for convenience of the reader only and is not to be construed as limiting in any sense.  
         [0000]     1. Obtaining Extracts from the  Morinda citrifolia  Plant for Incorporation into the Compositions of the Present Invention  
         [0024]     The Indian Mulberry or Noni plant, known scientifically as  Morinda citrifolia L.  ( Morinda citrifolia ), is a shrub or small tree. The leaves are oppositely arranged with an elliptic to ovate form. The small white flowers are contained in a fleshy, globose, head-like cluster. The fruits are large, fleshy, and ovoid. At maturity, they are creamy-white and edible, but have an unpleasant taste and odor. The plant is native to Southeast Asia and has spread in early times to a vast area from India to eastern Polynesia. It grows randomly in the wild, and it has been cultivated in plantations and small individual growing plots. The  Morinda citrifolia  flowers are small, white, three to five lobed, tubular, fragrant, and about 1.25 cm long. The flowers develop into compound fruits composed of many small drupes fused into an ovoid, ellipsoid or round, lumpy body, with waxy, white, or greenish-white or yellowish, semi-translucent skin. The fruit contains “eyes” on its surface, similar to a potato. The fruit is juicy, bitter, dull-yellow or yellowish-white, and contains numerous red-brown, hard, oblong-triangular, winged 2-celled stones, each containing four seeds.  
         [0025]     When fully ripe, the fruit has a pronounced odor like rancid cheese. Although the fruit has been eaten by several nationalities as food, the most common use of the  Morinda citrifolia  plant was as a red and yellow dye source. Recently, there has been an interest in the nutritional and health benefits of the  Morinda citrifolia  plant, further discussed below.  
         [0026]     Processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice can be prepared by separating seeds and peels from the juice and pulp of a ripened  Morinda citrifolia  fruit; filtering the pulp from the juice; and packaging the juice. Alternatively, rather than packaging the juice, the juice can be immediately included as an ingredient in other products. In some embodiments, the juice and pulp can be pureed into a homogenous blend to be mixed with other ingredients. Other processes include freeze-drying the fruit and juice. The fruit and juice can be reconstituted during production of the final juice product. Still other processes include air-drying the fruit and juices, prior to being masticated.  
         [0027]     The present invention also contemplates the use of fruit juice and/or puree fruit juice extracted from the  Morinda citrifolia  plant. In a currently preferred process of producing  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice, the fruit is either hand picked or picked by mechanical equipment. The fruit can be harvested when it is at least one inch (2-3 cm) and up to 12 inches (24-36 cm) in diameter. The fruit preferably has a color ranging from a dark green through a yellow-green up to a white color, and gradations of color in between. The fruit is thoroughly cleaned after harvesting and before any processing, occurs.  
         [0028]     The fruit is allowed to ripen or age from 0 to 14 days, with most fruit being held from 2 to 3 days. The fruit is ripened or aged by being placed on equipment so it does not contact the ground. It is preferably covered with a cloth or netting material during aging, but can be aged without being covered. When ready for further processing the fruit is light in color, from a light green, light yellow, white or translucent color. The fruit is inspected for spoilage or for excessively green color and hard firmness. Spoiled and hard green fruit is separated from the acceptable fruit.  
         [0029]     The ripened and aged fruit may be placed in containers for processing and transport. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aged fruit is placed in plastic lined containers for further processing and transport. The containers of aged fruit may be held from 0 to 120 days. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fruit containers are held for 7 to 14 days before processing. The containers can optionally be stored under refrigerated conditions or ambient/room temperature conditions prior to further processing. The fruit is unpacked from the storage containers and may be further processed through a manual or mechanical separator, in which the seeds and peel are separated from the juice and pulp.  
         [0030]     The juice and pulp can be packaged into containers for storage and transport. Alternatively, the juice and pulp can be immediately processed into a finished juice product. The containers can be stored in refrigerated, frozen, or room temperature conditions.  
         [0031]     The  Morinda citrifolia  juice and pulp are preferably blended in a homogenous blend, after which they may be mixed with other ingredients. The finished juice product is preferably heated and pasteurized at a minimum temperature of 181° F. (83° C.) or higher up to 212° F. (100° C.).  
         [0032]     Another product manufactured is  Morinda citrifolia  puree and puree juice, in either concentrate or diluted form. Puree is essentially the pulp separated from the seeds and is different from the fruit juice product described herein.  
         [0033]     Each product is filled and sealed into a final container. The container may be plastic, glass, or another suitable material that can withstand the processing temperatures. The containers are maintained at the filling temperature or may be cooled rapidly and then placed in a shipping container. The shipping containers are preferably wrapped with a material and in a manner to maintain or control the temperature of the product in the final containers.  
         [0034]     The juice and pulp may be further processed by separating the pulp from the juice through filtering equipment. The filtering equipment preferably consists of, but is not limited to, a centrifuge decanter, a screen filter with a size from 0.01 micron up to 2000 microns, more preferably less than 500 microns, a filter press, reverse osmosis filtration, and any other standard commercial filtration devices. The operating filter pressure preferably ranges from 0.1 psig up to about 1000 psig. The flow rate preferably ranges from 0.1 g.p.m. up to 1000 g.p.m., and more preferably between 5 and 50 g.p.m. The wet pulp may be washed and filtered at least once and up to 10 times to remove any juice from the pulp. The wet pulp typically has a fiber content of 10 to 40 percent by weight. The wet pulp is preferably pasteurized at a temperature of 181° F. (83° C.) minimum and then packed in drums for further processing or made into a high fiber product.  
         [0035]     The processed  Morinda citrifolia  product may also exist as a fiber. Still further, the processed  Morinda citrifolia  product may also exist in oil form, such as an oil extract. The  Morinda citrifolia  oil typically includes a mixture of several different fatty acids as triglycerides, such as palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic fatty acids, and other fatty acids present in lesser quantities. In addition, the oil preferably includes an antioxidant to inhibit spoilage of the oil. Conventional food grade antioxidants are preferably used.  
         [0036]     The high fiber product may include wet or dry  Morinda citrifolia  pulp, supplemental fiber ingredients, water, sweeteners, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and/or nutritional ingredients. The supplemental fiber ingredients may include plant based fiber products, either commercially available or developed privately. Examples of some typical fiber products are guar gum, gum arabic, soybean fiber, oat fiber, pea fiber, fig fiber, citrus pulp sacs, hydroxymethylcellulose, cellulose, seaweed, food grade lumber or wood pulp, hemicellulose, etc. Other supplemental fiber ingredients may be derived from grains or grain products. The concentrations of these other fiber raw materials typically range from 0 up to 30 percent, by weight, and more preferably from 10 to 30 percent by weight.  
         [0037]     The juice and pulp can be dried using a variety of methods. The juice and pulp mixture can be pasteurized or enzymatically treated prior to drying. The enzymatic process begins with heating the product to a temperature between 75° F. and 135° F. It is then treated with either a single enzyme or a combination of enzymes. These enzymes include, but are not limited to, amylase, lipase, protease, cellulase, bromelin, etc. The juice and pulp may also be dried with other ingredients, such as those described above in connection with the high fiber product. The typical nutritional profile of the dried juice and pulp is 1 to 20 percent moisture, 0.1 to 15 percent protein, 0.1 to 20 percent fiber, and the vitamin and mineral content.  
         [0038]     The filtered juice and the water from washing the wet pulp are preferably mixed together. The filtered juice may be vacuum evaporated to a brix of 40 to 70 and a moisture of 0.1 to 80 percent, more preferably from 25 to 75 percent. The resulting concentrated  Morinda citrifolia  juice may or may not be pasteurized. For example, the juice would not be pasteurized in circumstances where the sugar content or water activity was sufficiently low enough to prevent microbial growth.  
         [0039]     The  Morinda citrifolia  plant is rich in natural ingredients. Those ingredients that have been discovered include: (from the leaves): alanine, anthraquinones, arginine, ascorbic acid, aspartic acid, calcium, beta-carotene, cysteine, cystine, glycine, glutamic acid, glycosides, histidine, iron, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, niacin, phenylalanine, phosphorus, proline, resins, riboflavin, serine, beta-sitosterol, thiamine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, ursolic acid, and valine; (from the flowers): acacetin-7-o-beta-d(+)-glucopyranoside, 5,7-dimethyl-apigenin-4′-o-beta-d(+)-galactopyranoside, and 6,8-dimethoxy-3-methylanthraquinone-1-o-beta-rhamnosyl-glucopyranoside; (from the fruit): acetic acid, asperuloside, butanoic acid, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, 1-butanol, caprylic acid, decanoic acid, (E)-6-dodeceno-gamma-lactone, (Z,Z,Z)-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, elaidic acid, ethyl decanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl palmitate, (Z)-6-(ethylthiomethyl) benzene, eugenol, glucose, heptanoic acid, 2-heptanone, hexanal, hexanamide, hexanedioic acid, hexanoic acid (hexoic acid), 1-hexanol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, lauric acid, limonene, linoleic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, methyl decanoate, methyl elaidate, methyl hexanoate, methyl 3-methylthio-propanoate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methyl palmitate, 2-methylpropanoic acid, 3-methylthiopropanoic acid, myristic acid, nonanoic acid, octanoic acid (octoic acid), oleic acid, palmitic acid, potassium, scopoletin, undecanoic acid, (Z,Z)-2,5-undecadien-1-ol, and vomifol; (from the roots): anthraquinones, asperuloside (rubichloric acid), damnacanthal, glycosides, morindadiol, morindine, morindone, mucilaginous matter, nor-damnacanthal, rubiadin, rubiadin monomethyl ether, resins, soranjidiol, sterols, and trihydroxymethyl anthraquinone-monomethyl ether; (from the root bark): alizarin, chlororubin, glycosides (pentose, hexose), morindadiol, morindanigrine, morindine, morindone, resinous matter, rubiadin monomethyl ether, and soranjidiol; (from the wood): anthragallol-2,3-dimethylether; (from the tissue culture): damnacanthal, lucidin, lucidin-3-primeveroside, and morindone-6beta-primeveroside; (from the plant): alizarin, alizarin-alpha-methyl ether, anthraquinones, asperuloside, hexanoic acid, morindadiol, morindone, morindogenin, octanoic acid, and ursolic acid.  
         [0040]     The present invention contemplates utilizing all parts of the  M. citrifolia  plant alone, in combination with each other or in combination with other ingredients. The above listed portions of the  M. citrifolia  plant are not an exhaustive list of parts of the plant to be used but are merely exemplary. Thus, while some of the parts of the  M. citrifolia  plant are not mentioned above (e.g., seed from the fruit, the pericarp of the fruit, the bark or the plant) the present invention contemplates the use of all of the parts of the plant.  
         [0041]     Ingredients, components or extracts may be obtained from any part of the  Morinda citrifolia  plant including leaves, stem, seeds and/or roots. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, extracts may be obtained from the leaves, stem, seeds, and/or roots by first chopping the raw material. Next, an extraction method may be utilized to isolate ingredients of interest. Extraction of ingredients of interest may be accomplished by exposing the raw ingredients to a solvent of choice. In one embodiment of the invention, a hot water extraction method is utilized, at an appropriate temperature to ensure isolation of the desired ingredients. For example, water may be added to the raw materials in a five to one ratio by weight and heated to 95° C. Other solvents may be utilized for the extraction including organic solvents or mixtures of aqueous and organic solvents. Organic solvents are preferably selected from a list comprising ethanol, methanol, and hexane. Moreover, wet pressure and heat process using ordinary autoclave equipment may be applied. Furthermore, treatment processes using cellulose hydrolysis enzyme may be added to aforementioned processes. After removing insoluble components through filtering, if desired, from extract obtained from leaves, stems, seeds and/or roots, solvent is removed and extract of the present invention is obtained. This extract may be pasteurized, if necessary, or concentrated or dried. Drying may be achieved using ordinary spray drying or freeze-drying. The extract may be stored under cooling or freezing conditions.  
         [0042]     Moreover, oil may be extracted from seeds. Oil may be obtained by drying, crushing, and squeezing seeds with a press. More oil may be extracted from seed cake residue by extracting the oil utilizing a solvent selected from a list comprising hexane, ethanol, water, other aqueous solvents, or other organic solvent. The oil contains fatty acid such as linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid in the form of triglycerides.  
         [0000]     2. Exemplary Ingredients and Forms for the Compositions of the Present Invention  
         [0043]     The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of a variety of compositions, including orally administered compositions, intravenous solutions, and other products or compositions. As mentioned earlier herein, the compositions can include a variety of ingredients.  
         [0044]     Orally administered compositions may take the form of, for example, liquids or beverages, tablets, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, syrups, or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known in the art, and such compositions may contain one or more agents such as sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and preserving agents. They may also contain one or more additional ingredients such as vitamins and minerals, etc. Tablets may be manufactured to contain one or more  Morinda citrifolia  extracts in admixture with non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be, for example, inert diluents, granulating and disintegrating agents, binding agents, and lubricating agents. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate may be used.  
         [0045]     Aqueous suspensions may be manufactured to contain  Morinda citrifolia  extracts in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Examples of such excipients include, but are not limited to: suspending agents such as sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxy-propylmethycellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents such as a naturally-occurring phosphatide like lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids such as polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols such as heptadecaethylene-oxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitor monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides such as polyethylene sorbitan monooleate.  
         [0046]     Typical sweetening agents may include, but are not limited to: natural sugars derived from corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, potatoes, tapioca, or other starch-containing sources that can be chemically or enzymatically converted to crystalline chunks, powders, and/or syrups. Also, sweeteners can comprise artificial or high-intensity sweeteners, some of which may include aspartame, sucralose, stevia, saccharin, etc. The concentration of sweeteners may be between from 0 to 50 percent by weight of the composition, and more preferably between about 1 and 5 percent by weight.  
         [0047]     Typical flavoring agents can include, but are not limited to, artificial and/or natural flavoring ingredients that contribute to palatability. The concentration of flavors may range, for example, from 0 to 15 percent by weight of the composition. Coloring agents may include food-grade artificial or natural coloring agents having a concentration ranging from 0 to 10 percent by weight of the composition.  
         [0048]     Typical nutritional ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, trace elements, herbs, botanical extracts, bioactive chemicals, and compounds at concentrations from 0 to 10 percent by weight of the composition. Examples of vitamins include, but are not limited to, vitamins A, B1 through B12, C, D, E, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, etc. Examples of minerals and trace elements include, but are not limited to, calcium, chromium, copper, cobalt, boron, magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, iodine, zinc, phosphorus, etc. Herbs and botanical extracts may include, but are not limited to, alfalfa grass, bee pollen, chlorella powder, Dong Quai powder, Ecchinacea root, Gingko Biloba extract, Horsetail herb, Indian mulberry, Shitake mushroom, spirulina seaweed, grape seed extract, etc. Typical bioactive chemicals may include, but are not limited to, caffeine, ephedrine, L-carnitine, creatine, lycopene, etc.  
         [0049]     Ingredients of the present invention may also include one or more carrier agents (for example, water) known or used in the art. Examples of other ingredients may include, but are not limited to: artificial flavoring, other natural juices or juice concentrates such as a natural grape juice concentrate or a natural blueberry juice concentrate. The ingredients to be utilized in the compositions of the present invention may include any that are safe for internalizing into the body of a mammal.  
         [0050]     Favorably, this invention provides a method of inhibiting MAO and/or COMT with a  Morinda citrifolia -based formulation without any significant tendency to cause undesirable side effects.  
         [0051]     The present invention features a unique formulation and method of administering the same to inhibit MAO and/or COMT, by providing a nutraceutical composition or treatment formulated with one or more processed  Morinda citrifolia  products derived from the Indian Mulberry plant. The  Morinda citrifolia  product is incorporated into various carriers or nutraceutical compositions suitable for in vivo treatment of a patient. For instance, the nutraceutical formulation may be ingested orally, introduced via an intravenous injection or feeding system, or otherwise internalized as is appropriate and directed.  
         [0052]     The nutraceutical composition of the present invention comprises one or more of a processed  Morinda citrifolia  product present in an amount by weight between about 0.01 and 100 percent by weight, and preferably between 0.01 and 95 percent by weight. Several exemplary embodiments of formulations are provided below. However, these are only intended to be exemplary, as one ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize other formulations or compositions comprising the processed  Morinda citrifolia  product.  
         [0053]     The processed  Morinda citrifolia  product is the active ingredient or contains one or more active ingredients, such as quercetin, rutin, scopoletin, octoanoic acid, potassium, vitamin C, terpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones (such as nordamnacanthal, morindone, rubiandin, B-sitosterol, carotene, vitamin A, flavone glycosides, linoleic acid, Alizarin, amino acides, acubin, L-asperuloside, caproic acid, caprylic acid, ursolic acid, and a putative proxeronine and others, for inhibting MAO and/or COMT. Active ingredients may be extracted utilizing aqueous or organic solvents including various alcohol or alcohol-based solutions, such as methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate, and other alcohol-based derivatives using any known process in the art. The active ingredients of quercetin and rutin are present in amounts by weight ranging from 0.01-10 percent of the total formulation or composition. These amounts may be concentrated as well into a more potent concentration in which they are present in amounts ranging from 10 to 100 percent.  
         [0054]     The nutraceutical composition comprising  Morinda citrifolia  may be prepared using any known means in the art. In addition, since the nutraceutical composition will most likely be consumed orally, it may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents, preserving agents, and other medicinal agents as directed.  
         [0055]     The present invention further features a method of administering a nutraceutical composition comprising one or more processed  Morinda citrifolia  products to inhibit MAO and/or COMT by providing a nutraceutical composition or treatment formulated The method for administering a nutraceutical, or the method for inhibiting MAO and/or COMT, comprises the steps of (a) formulating a nutraceutical composition comprising in part a processed  Morinda citrifolia  product present in an amount between about 0.01 and 95 percent by weight, wherein the composition also comprises a carrier, such as water or purified water, and other natural or artificial ingredients; (b) introducing the nutraceutical composition into the body, such that the processed  Morinda citrifolia  product is sufficiently internalized; (c) repeating the above steps as often as necessary to provide an effective amount of the processed  Morinda citrifolia  product to the body of the patient to inhibit MAO and/or COMT.  
         [0056]     The step of introducing the nutraceutical composition into the body comprises one of ingesting the composition orally. Ingesting the nutraceutical orally means the nutraceutical composition may be formulated as a liquid, gel, solid, or some other type that would allow the composition to be quickly digested and concentrated within the body. It is important to note that the step of administering the nutraceutical composition should be carried out in an effective manner so that the greatest concentration of nutraceutical composition, and particularly the processed  Morinda citrifolia  product, is internalized and absorbed into the patient&#39;s body. In one embodiment, the nutraceutical composition is administered by taking between 1 teaspoon and 2 oz., and preferably 2 oz., of the nutraceutical composition every two hours each day, or at least twice a day. In addition, the nutraceutical composition is to be taken on an empty stomach, meaning at a period of time at least two hours prior to consumption of any food or drink. Following this, the nutraceutical composition is sufficiently allowed to absorb into the tissues of the body. Of course, one ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize that the amount of composition and frequency of use may vary from individual to individual. For example, the invention contemplates the administration of up to 10 ozs. for each administration.  
         [0057]     In another method of the present invention, a takes at least one (1) ounce of Formulation One in the morning on an empty stomach, and at least one (1) ounce at night on an empty stomach, just prior to retiring to bed. In another method of the present invention, a person diagnosed with or experiencing depression takes at least one ounce of Formulation Two twice a day. In addition, the step of administering the nutraceutical composition may include injecting the composition into the body using an intravenous pump.  
         [0058]     The following compositions or formulations represent some of the preferred embodiments contemplated by the present invention.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Ingredients   Percent by Weight                                    Formulation One                  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice   100%            Formulation Two                  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice      85-99.99%           Water   0.1-15%            Formulation Three                  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice      85-99.99%           Other fruit juices   0.1-15%            Formulation Four                  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice    50-90%           Water   0.1-50%           Other fruit juices   0.1-30%            Formulation Five                  Morinda citrifolia  extract   100%            Formulation Six                  Morinda citrifolia  extract    50-90%           Water   0.1-50%            Formulation Seven                  Morinda citrifolia  extract    50-90%           Other fruit juices   0.1-30%            Formulation Eight                  Morinda citrifolia  extract    50-90%           Water   0.1-50%           Other fruit juices   0.1-30%            Formulation Nine                  Morinda citrifolia  extract   0.1-50%           Water      50-99.9%                      
 
       EXAMPLES  
       [0059]     The following examples set forth and present the effects of the  Morinda citrifolia  compositions on the inhibition of MAO and COMT. These examples are not intended to be limiting in any way, but are merely illustrative of the beneficial, advantageous, and remedial effects of  Morinda citrifolia  on MAO and COMT inhibition.  
       Example One  
       [0060]     In the present example, a patient experiencing or diagnosed with and suffering from Parkinson&#39;s desires to treat the condition with a nonprescription, over-the-counter preparation. To treat the disease, the individual consumes an identified prescribed amount of a composition containing processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice. The person intermittently consumes the food product containing the processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice until MAO is inhibited, wherein the Parkinson&#39;s is reduced or eliminated.  
       Example Two  
       [0061]     In the present example, a patient experiencing or diagnosed with and suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder desires to treat the condition with a nonprescription, over-the-counter preparation. To treat the neurodegenerative disorder, the individual consumes an identified prescribed amount of a composition containing processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice. The person intermittently consumes the food product containing the processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice until MAO is sufficiently inhibited, wherein the neurodegenerative disorder is reduced or eliminated.  
       Example Three  
       [0062]     In the present example, a patient experiencing or diagnosed with and suffering from depression desires to treat the condition with a nonprescription, over-the-counter preparation. To treat depression, the individual consumes an identified prescribed amount of a composition containing processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice. The person intermittently consumes the food product containing the processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice until MAO is sufficiently inhibited, wherein the depressive disorder is reduced or eliminated.  
       Example Four  
       [0063]     In the present example, a patient experiencing or diagnosed with and suffering from depression, wherein depression is a secondary disorder, desires to treat the condition with a nonprescription, over-the-counter preparation. To treat the depression, the individual consumes an identified prescribed amount of a composition containing processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice. The person intermittently consumes the food product containing the processed  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice until MAO is sufficiently inhibited, wherein the depressive disorder is reduced or eliminated.  
       Example Five  
       [0064]     The following illustrates results obtained from performing biochemical assays on embodiments of  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice concentrates of the present invention. Note that “TNJ” refers to  Morinda citrifolia  evaporative concentrate. The percentage of concentration represents the concentration strength of the particular concentrate tested; that is, the strength of concentration relative to the  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice from which the concentrate was obtained. The percentage of inhibition is the percent by which the MAO enzyme was inhibited.  
                                               Type of concentrated       Type of MAO       Concentration   composition   % Inhibition   enzyme inhibited                   1%   TNJ   60%   MAO A       5%   TNJ   99%   MAO A       10%    TNJ   100%    MAO A       1%   TNJ   66%   MAO B       5%   TNJ   95%   MAO B       10%    TNJ   99%   MAO B                  
 
       Example Six  
       [0065]     This example illustrates results obtained from performing biochemical assays on embodiments of  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice concentrates of the present invention. “TNCONC” refers to  Morinda citrifolia  freeze concentrate; “TNJ” refers to  Morinda citrifolia  evaporative concentrate. The percentage of concentration represents the concentration strength of the particular concentrate tested; that is, the strength of concentration relative to the  Morinda citrifolia  fruit juice from which the concentrate was obtained. The percentage of inhibition is the percent by which COMT was inhibited.  
                                           Type of concentrated           Concentration   composition   % Inhibition                   1%   TNJ   69%       2.5%     TNJ   84%       5%   TNJ   92%                  
 
         [0066]     Unless otherwise indicated, any numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth present in the specification or any claims or drawings are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.  
         [0067]     Notwithstanding that any numerical ranges and parameters that set forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.  
         [0068]     While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferred embodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodiments having modifications, omissions, combinations, adaptations, and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the present disclosure. The limitations in any claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described herein, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” should be construed as meaning “preferably, but not limited to.” 
         [0069]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.