‘Afa Kehaati Palu

Associate Research Scientist
Research and Development Team
Tahitian Noni International

Country of Origin
Tonga

Education and Professional Experience
A.S in Computer Science, BYU-Hawaii
B.S in Biological Science, BYU-Hawaii
M.S in Plant Molecular Genetics, BYU-Provo

Afa’s research emphasis is in molecular biology, signal transduction pathways, mechanisms, bioassays, and isolation and fractionations of bioactive materials.  His research is also dedicated to the isolation of Proxeronine from different plant sources, including Morinda citrifolia.  Working for Tahitian Noni International his roles also include speaking at International Conventions and presenting for Distributor meetings.

Accomplishments
Senior Project: The Effects of Cassia alata L. on Several Bacterial Species
Thesis Title: The Characterization of an Opaque Maize (Zea mays L.) Mutant

Awards
American Society of Plant Biologist Travel Grant Award

Publications and Presentations

  • The Characterization of an Opaque Maize (Zea mays L.) Mutant (BYU-Provo Library)
  • Posture presentation at American Society of Plant Biologist 2001 (‘Afa K. Palu & Craig E. Coleman, ASPB 2001)
  • Morinda citrifolia (Noni): A literature review and recent advances in Noni research. (Wang MY et al. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2002     Dec; 23(12): 1127-1141)
  • Palu AK, West BJ, Jensen J, White L. Knowing your noni tree and traditional usage eliminates confusion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Dec 22;351(3):577. Epub 2006 Nov 7.
  • Palu AK, West B, Jensen J. Not all noni liquid dietary supplements are created equal. American Journal of Hematology 2005 May;79(1):81.
  • Brett J West and Afa Palu.  Evaluation of the allergenic potential of Morinda citrifolia L. leaf proteins. AGFD 158. The 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.  September 10-14, 2006
  • Shixin Deng, Afa K Palu, Bing-Nan Zhou, Jarakae C. Jensen, and Brett J West. Noni contains competitive ligand(s) binding to GABAa agonist receptors as an anxiolytic. AGFD 67.  The 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.  September 10-14, 2006. (http://oasys2.confex.com/acs/232nm/techprogram/P995203.HTM)
  • Afa K. Palu, Bing-Nan Zhou, Shixin Deng, and Brett J. West. Morinda citrifolia L. Noni: An angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. AGFD 130. The 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA.  September 10-14, 2006. (http://oasys2.confex.com/acs/232nm/techprogram/P974821.HTM)
  • Shixin Deng, Afa Palu, Bin-nan Zhou, Chen Su, Jarakae Jensen, Brett West.  Constituents of the fruit of noni and their Selective inhibitory effects of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme.  The 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. August 5-9, 2006. Arlington, Virginia. (http://www.phcog.org/AnnualMtg/Posters.html)
  • Afa K. Palu, Chen Sus, Bing-nan Zhou, Brett West, Shixin Deng, Jarakae Jensen.  The inhibitory effects of Morinda citrifolia L. noni on phosphodiesterase enzymes: The possible mechanisms for increasing energy and improving diabetic conditions. CIPAM 2006 Abstracts.  IVth International Conference on Aromatic and Medicinal Plants from French Overseas Regions.  Tahiti. July 10-13, 2006. p. 12.
  • Chen Su, Brett J. West, ‘Afa K. Palu, Bing-nan Zhou, Jarakae Jensen, John Fritz, Anne Hirazumi-Kim.  Inhibition of tumar metastasis by the ethanol insoluble precipitate from Morinda citrifolia (L) fruit juice and its possible mechanism. CIPAM 2006 Abstracts.  IVth International Conference on Aromatic and Medicinal Plants from French Overseas Regions.  Tahiti. July 10-13, 2006. p. 28.
  • Afa Kehaati Palu, Brett Justin West, Jarakae Jensen, Bing-nan Zhou.  Morinda citrifolia L. Noni has cholesterol lowering potential. The 47th Annual Meeting of Society for Economic Botany, Folk Botanical Wisdom; Towards Global Markets. June 5-9, 2006. Final Program, page 71 (www.econbot.org/events/2006/SEB2006%20Program.pdf).
  • Chen Su, Anne Kim, Afa K. Palu, Brett West, Jarakae Jensen. The phytoestrogen effect of Morinda citrifolia (Noni).  Proceedings of WorldNutra 2004, 5thInternational Conference and Exhibition on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, November 7-10, 2004, San Francisco. Page 471 (www.worldnutra.com/pdetails2004.htm).
  • Chen X. Su, Mina Y Wang, C. Jarakae Jensen, Anne H. Kim, Brett West, Summer Jensen, Afa Palu, Bing-Nan Zhou, Johnathan W Fritz.  An ethanol insoluble precipitate of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit juice (NoniPPT) and its anti-metastatic effects.  Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research, Vol. 45 March 2004:29.
  • Primary & Secondary Inventor in several numbers of Patents (Published & Patent Pending) (www.uspto.gov)

Noni Motivation
“My ancestors have been using Noni for centuries with only stories and results as proof of its effectiveness. Today, however, scientists across the world are confirming what my Polynesian ancestors have known for over thousand of years.”

Location/ Hometown
In Tonga: Haveluloto, Tongatapu Tonga.
In USA: Orem, Utah