Medicinal Values of Mulberry –An Overview Sulochana Priya Centre for Bio-Separation Technology (CBST), VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu- 632 014, India
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Sulochana Priya / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(7),3588-3596 Review Article Available online through ISSN: 0974-6943 http://jprsolutions.info Medicinal Values of Mulberry –An Overview Sulochana Priya Centre for Bio-Separation Technology (CBST), VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu- 632 014, India. Received on:17-04-2012; Revised on: 24-05-2012; Accepted on:22-06-2012 ABSTRACT Mulberry is a fast growing woody perennial plant belonging to the family Moraceae. These plants gained attention since time immemorial due to its pharmacological and economic value. Use of mulberry leaves in sericulture has been reported in the ancient Chinese literature. Medicinal properties of this plant have been depicted in the ancient literature of Ayurveda. Some of the ayurvedic preparations use fruits, leaves, roots, bark or latex to administer against various diseases. Extensive research done during the past few decades thrown light on the active principles present in mulberry. This review illustrates the major pharmacological properties of this plant along with major applications of phytochemicals purified from it. Key words: Mulberry, cancer, diabetes, deoxynojirimycin INTRODUCTION The genus Morus contains more that 15 species of deciduous plants com- dicyclokuwanon EB are the important flavonoids isolated from M. australis monly called mulberry. The major ones include Morus alba, Morus nigra, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of UV, IR, MS, NMR, and Morus rubra, Morus australis, Morus atropurpurea, Morus cathayana, CD spectral data[12]. The water extract of mulberry leaf prepared at high Morus notabilis and Morus mesozygia. These are economically important temperature contain four important flavonols, quercetin-3-ß-D-glucose, quer- plant because the leaves are extensively used in sericulture. Apart from this, cetin-3-O-glucose-6?-acetate, rutin and quercetin[13]. Moruslupenoic acid A, many nutritional benefits and medicinal values are attributed to this plant. moruslupenoic acid B and moruslanosteryl acetate are the important lupeol The leaves contain high amount of protein and the nutritional scientists in type pentacyclic triterpenoids separated from the stem bark of M. alba[14]. India suggested the use of dry leaf powder for making parathas, one of the Moran 20K is a glycoprotein purified from the aqueous methanolic extract of most popular Indian food items. In Korea and Japan the mulberry leaves and the root bark of M. alba which is having antioxidant antidiabetic activity[15]. fruits are included in their functional foods, used in the preparation of tea and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, cyanidin-3-O-beta- ice creams. This plant has remarkable effects in lowering serum glucose and glucoside (Cy-3-glu), cyanidin-3-O-beta-rutinoside (Cy-3-rut), and rutin were blood cholesterol levels enabling their use in traditional Chinese herbal and also reported in different species of mulberry[16]. Sanggenol, kuwanon, moracin, folk medicines. These properties are due to the presence of many bioactive mulberrofuran, mulberroside, 1-deoxynojirimycin, 2-O-alpha-D- components such as flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids [1, 2, 3] galactopyranosyl-1-deoxynojirimycin, fagomine, betulinic acid, ursolic acid etc. in this plant . Different parts of the mulberry, from the root bark to and beta-sitosterol are the important chemical constituents of the root bark the leaves, have been extensively investigated for their various health ben- of M. atropurpurea[17]. The major pharmacologically important compounds efits, including antioxidative, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, and [18, [4] from M. alba and other species of mulberry has been reviewed previously antiatherogenic effects . This review focuses on the antioxidant activity and 19]. medicinal values of mulberry responsible for its therapeutic application, with special emphasis on major bioactive principles from it. Antidiabetic effects Diabetes mellitus (characterized by sustained hyperglycemia), the most com- Antioxidative potential mon metabolic disorder in humans, is associated with many secondary com- Presence of wide array of phytochemicals accounts for the antioxidative plications such as formation of free radicals and non enzymatic glycosylated potential of mulberry plant. Mulberry fruits are considered as nutritious end products. This creates very high oxidative stress and vascular complica- food with many flavonoids and polyphenols and the important ones identi- tions[20, 21]. The leaves of mulberry are one of the important herbal medicines fied are apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, morin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, rutin, [5, 6] used for the treatment of hyperglycemia. It was proved by experiments in umbelliferone, chlorogenic acid and kaempferol . The twigs and root bark animal models that mulberry leaf extract possess antihyperglycemic, antioxi- are also rich source of phenolic compounds such as maclurin, rutin, [22] [7] dant and antiglycation activities . It is effective in modulating the nitric isoquercitrin, resveratrol and morin . Mulberry fruit contains essential fatty oxide synthase expression in the hypothalamus of streptazotocin treated acids like palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids which are important for cell mem- rats[23]. M. rubra leaf extract exerts its antidiabetic activity in streptazotocin brane formation, proper development and functioning of nervous system, [8] induced diabetic rats by decreasing the fasting glucose levels, glycosylated production of eicosanoids and many inflammatory responses . Phytochemi- haemoglobin and increasing the plasma insulin and C-peptide levels[24]. 1- cal investigation of the stem bark of M. cathayana led to the isolation and [9] Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a known antidiabetic principle from mulberry has identification of cathayanin and various cathayanons . Few arylbenzofurans been shown to inhibit intestinal a-glucosidases resulting in reduction of blood with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were reported form M. glucose[25]. Also a hybrid of DNJ and a polysaccharide helps in regulating the wittiorum[10]. HPLC coupled with UV absorption detection lead to the iden- [11] expression of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes, glucokinase, PEP tification of five important stilbene glycosides from M. alba . carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatse. The polysaccharide in this mixture Benzokuwanon E, hydroxymorusin, dicyclokuwanon EA, and is able to protect pancreatic islets from alloxan induced damge, repair the destroyed pancreatic islets, upregulate the PDX-1, insulin-1 and insulin-2 *Corresponding author. expression in pancreas and normal secretion of insulin in serum[26]. Fagomine, Dr. Sulochana Priya one of the components present in mulberry leaves is capable of inducing [27] Scientist, insulin secretion in isolated rat islet cells . In patients with type 2 diabetes, CBST, VIT University, mulberry treatment caused an improvement in glycemic control and fall in VLDL production. Also it decreased the lipid peroxidation in blood, urine Vellore, Tamil Nadu-632 014, India Journal of Pharmacy Research Vol.5 Issue 7.July 2012 3588-3596 Sulochana Priya / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2012,5(7),3588-3596 and RBC membrane[28]. Moracin M, steppogenin-4'-O-ß-D-glucosiade and increased lipolytic effects such as decreased intracellular triglyceride and the mullberroside A were also isolated from the root bark of M. alba and all the release of glycerol. Moreover it inhibited phosphodiesterase activity in a three flavones showed hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induced diabetic mice[29]. dose dependent manner[42]. So it does have pharmacological applications in Retardation of starch digestion by inhibition of a-amylase, the key enzyme metabolic disorders such as obesity. DNJ present in mulberry leaf extract catalyzes the initial step in the hydrolysis of starch to smaller oligosaccha- helps in increasing serum adiponectin level, stimulated AMP activated pro- rides plays a key role in the control of diabetes. M. alba leaf extract rich in tein kinase to activate ß-oxidation which inhibit lipid accumulation in liver[43]. tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and saponins exhibit significant a- Mulberry water extract inhibited acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase activities amylase inhibitory activity[30]. by stimulating AMPK and attenuated the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and its target molecules such as fatty acid syn- Insulin resistance and low grade chronic inflammatory status will lead to the thase. In contrast, the lipolytic enzyme expressions of PPAR gamma and development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetic carnitine palmitoyltransferase1 were increased[44]. related insulin resistance depends both on glucose metabolism and fatty acid metabolism[31]. Improvement in insulin resistance has been suggested as an 12 weeks continuous supplementation of DNJ rich mulberry leaf extract effective way to prevent life style related type 2 diabetes and vascular capsule for humans showed a modest decrease in serum triglyceride levels complications. Repeated ingestion of M. alba leaf extract reduces the insulin and beneficial changes in lipid profile without any side effects[45]. Adminis- resistance in high fat fed KK-Ay mice[32]. Long term supplementation of tration of freeze dried powder of M. alba fruits to rats resulted in a significant mulberry leaf extract improved the markers of inflammation and insulin decrease in serum and liver triglyceride, total cholesterol,