Dr. Ralph Heinicke

Country of Origin
USA

Education and Professional Experience
Dr. Ralph Heinicke graduated from Cornell University in 1936 with a special interest in plant physiology. After completing his studies in Electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, He then went on to receive his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. He lived in Hawaii from 1950 to 1986, doing research for the Dole Pineapple Company, the Pineapple Research Institute, and the University of Hawaii. The first step in his discovery of the active ingredients of the Morinda citrifolia fruit was in his work at the Dole Pineapple Company. He was commissioned to find medicinal uses for an enzyme which was prevalent in pineapple, bromelain.

Dr. Heinicke published articles in several scientific journals detailing the findings of his research. Since about 1972, Dr. Heinicke had been attempting to identify the unknown ingredient in bromelain, which he believed was actually responsible for the encouraging results of his clinical work. After many years of research, he eventually identified this ingredient as a new alkaloid to which he gave the name “Xeronine.” In December 1981, he patented Xeronine as a new alkaloid.

Because he was convinced of the potential benefits as a result of his research, Dr. Heinicke set out to find a food source that was high in Proxeronine that could be used as a food supplement. Living in Hawaii, he had heard of the many claims that had been made about the M. citrifolia plant, so he chose the fruit of this plant as the subject of his search for a Xeronine supplement. He discovered that this plant not only contains enormous amounts of Proxeronine, but that it also contains the enzyme that helps change Proxeronine into Xeronine, called Proxeroninase. Dr. Heinicke has spent most of his life studying M. citrifolia and the nature of its healthful properties, including Xeronine and Proxeronine. He is the world’s leading expert on M. citrifolia.

Accomplishments
Dr. Heinicke has obtained four different patents, three of which are regarding noni and the substantiating of the contained compound, Xeronine within noni.

Publications
Heinicke, R.M. and Levand, O., Ferulic Acid as a Component of a Complex Carbohydrate Polymer of Bromelain, Phytochemistry Vol. 7, 1968, pp. 1659 to 1662.

Heinicke, R.M. and Gortner, W. A., Stem Bromelain–A New Protease Preparation from Pineapple Plants, Economic Botany 11, 1957, pp 225-234

Location/ Hometown
Louisville, Kentucky