Mulberry

MULBERRY

Fructose mori[1]

Moraceae[2]

Black Mulberry,White Mulberry, Mulberry Fruit,Fructus Mori,Fruit cluster of Morus alba[12]

DESCRIPTION:

•  The Common Mulberry is a handsome tree, 20 to 30 feet high, of rugged, picturesque appearance, forming a dense, spreading head of branches usually wider than the height of the tree, springing from a short, rough trunk[8].

 Images:

Black Mulberry

Red Mulberry

Dried Mulberry

Leaves of Mulberry

ACTIVE CONSTITUENT: 

• Glucose, Protein, Pectin, Flavonoids, Volatile oils, Amino acids, Saccharides, Vitamins,  Oxalic acid, Succinic acid, Malic acid, Tartaric acid, Citric acid, Fumaric acid, Palmitic acid,  Ethyl palmitate[6].

TRADITIONAL USE: 

• The oldest Chinese herbal, “Shinnouhonzoukyou” (Divine Husbandmans’ Classic of Materia Medica) published 1400 years ago, mentions the leaves, fruits, and roots of the mulberry tree. In Chinese medicine, the leaves are seen as antipyretic and antitussive, the fruits as tonic and analgesic, and the roots as diuretic, antipyretic, and antitussive.Mulberry Leaves have been treasured as an herbal medicine since ancient times. China’s oldest book of remedies, “Huang Di Ba Shi Yi Nan Jing” or “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of the Difficulties”, a book devoted to Chinese Medical Practice is the bible for all herbal medicine and records the plant’s first use[5].

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:

•        Enhance immune function in mice alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)-positive T lymphocytes and splenic B lymphocytes (hemolytic plaque forming cells), decreased with age in mice fed daily to LACA Mulberry decoction 12.5g (crude drug) / kg, for 10 days, can significantly increase the different age groups of mice T lymphocytes; However, the same dose of mulberry decoction, only to increase the number of young mouse B lymphocytes, for more than 1 year no significant impact of aging mice. Application of 3H-TdR incorporation lymphocyte transformation test showed moderate mulberry decoction stimulate lymphocyte transformation role[4].

•         Pharmacological studies were done on the root bark of mulberry tree and pharmacological effects were compared with the clinical effects of "Sohakuhi" in Chinese medicine that was made using mice, rats, guinea pigs and dogsThere appears to be a correlation between the experimental pharmacological results and the clinical applications of mulberry root found in the literature on Chinese medicine[13].

•         The responses of mulberry (Morus alba L.) on exposure to different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) were studied. Plant growth and nutritional quality of the leaves were affected by soil-applied Cd. Reduction in the above parameters were obvious at the increasing concentration (above 20 μg/g) of Cd tested, although most of the parameters showed an increase at the initial concentrations (5–20 μg/g). The nutritional quality of the leaves (total protein, carbohydrate, and total chlorophyll) exhibited a declining trend with an increase in the test concentration of Cd. However, free aminoacid and total nitrogen "content of the leaves showed an increase. Crude fibre content on the other hand showed an initial declining trend followed by an increase; however, compared to control no increase was observed[11].

TOXICITY:

•              Red mulberry poisoning:  Red mulberry is a deciduous tree with unusually shaped leaves which are hairy on the underside. It bears small clusters of flowers and purple-black clusters of berries. The unripe fruit and plant sap can cause various symptoms if eaten. The plant is considered to have a relatively low level of toxicity[8].

•    The Poisonous Plants of North Carolina database lists both the North American native Morus rubra (red mulberry) and the introduced Morus alba (white mulberry) as mildly toxic.  The toxic parts are the unripe berries and the white sap from any part.  The symptoms are hallucinations and stomach upset.  This database says that it "causes only low toxicity if eaten". This is the only toxic plant database I could find, however, that listed it[10].

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REFERENCES:

[1]Plantas Medicinales de Filipinas,2000,T.H Pardo De Tavera,

[2]Medicinal Plants of the Philippines,Dr. Eduardo Quisimbing

[3]Hilty, J. Editor. 2014, Morus alba — Details White Mulberry, http://eol.org/pages/594885/details

Dr. Douglas Schar, 2010, http://doctorschar.com/archives/japanese-mulberry-morus-bomcycis /

[4]Mrs. M.  Grieve, A Modern Herbal,1995-2014, http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new05501.html 

  

[5]Will Block,November 2004, Mulberry Helps Control Blood Sugar, and More, http://www.life-.com/magazine/article/992-mulberry-helps-control-blood-sugar-and-more

[6]Abron Toure, 11th Jun 2010, The Origin and Health Benefits of the Mulberry Leaf, http://health.wikinut.com/The-Mulberry-Leaf/1x4c5bao/

[7]MDidea Extracts Professional, April 3rd 2014, Basic Botanical information of Mulberry or Fructus Mori, https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulcom62.html

[8]Right diagnosis from Healthgrades, 17 June, 2014, http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/r/red_mulberry_poisoning/intro.htm

[9]American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences,Volume 7, Issue 3

 [10]Nan Hampton, AUGUST 18, 2009, Toxic effect of mulberry fruits and sap

[11]W. SPM. Prince*, P. Senthil Kumara, K. D. Doberschutz & V. Subburam, 16 Aug 2006 ,CADMIUM TOXICITY IN MULBERRY PLANTS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF LEAVES  , http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1081/PLN-120002952#tabModule  

[12]1997, http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/mulberry.html.

[13]Yamatake Y, Shibata M,  Nagai M.,http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1003702