• White mulberry - description of the plant
• What health-promoting ingredients does white mulberry contain?
• White mulberry fruit
• White mulberry leaves
• The influence of white mulberry on the body's carbohydrate metabolism
• White mulberry and lipid profile
• What else influences the white mulberry?
• White mulberry - contraindications for use
• summary
• bibliography

The White Mulberry is a plant whose health-promoting properties have been confirmed by many extensive scientific studies. Although their original habitat was not Poland, it is worth noting that the white mulberry is a widespread species in our country. We can find it both in raw and dried form, which is by far the most popular - on sale. Let us add that the fruits of this tree are extremely tasty, which further increases its value and might encourage us to reach for it. What are the properties of this interesting plant, how and for what diseases should it be used? We provide answers to these and other questions in this text.

White mulberry - description of the plant

White mulberry comes from China. It grew wild in this vast land hundreds of years ago. Then it became a cultivated plant, mainly for the taste of its white fruits, but not only. Very quickly it turned out that the leaves of this plant are perfect as a breeding ground for silkworms, which was also helpful in their breeding. Therefore, very often we come across the name - the plague silkworm. The mulberry itself is one of the mulberry species whose representatives are mainly small deciduous trees that grow up to about 15 meters high. It has also spread to other continents with the advent of new technologies that allow people to travel around the world. Scientists estimate that it came to Europe around the 11th century AD. In Poland there is practically only white mulberry, which, interestingly enough, is very often confused with black or red mulberries. This is mainly due to the different hues of its fruit, which can contribute to these errors. However, the mulberry does not owe its name to the color of the fruit, but to the bark. This is a very good way of distinguishing these varieties. Let us add that one of the first observed properties of mulberry was its effect on accelerating the growth of children. This was discovered in China, where infusions of the leaves and shoots of this plant were given to children whose height and weight differed markedly from their peers. This led to further investigation and research into this tree with really positive results for all of us.

What health-promoting ingredients does white mulberry contain?

In the commonly understood herbal medicine, both mulberry fruits and their leaves are used. Due to the fact that they differ slightly in chemical composition, let's focus on the fruits first.

White mulberry fruit

The fruits of this tree are mostly available in dried form. They consist mostly of simple sugars (83/100 grams), but also contain proteins (3/100 grams) and small amounts of fats of all kinds (3/100 grams) and fiber (7/100 grams). In addition, they are extremely rich in vitamin C, but also in those of group B. It is worth noting that microelements are their strength. We can find quite a lot of iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese and even copper in them. They can be an interesting alternative source of exogenous amino acids, i.e. those that our body cannot synthesize itself but must be obtained from the diet. We are of course talking about methionine, threonine, leucine and arginine.

White mulberry leaves

Although the white mulberry is best known for its tasty fruits, it is in the leaves of this plant that we find the most active substances. As with fruits, it is the dried leaves that are widely used in herbal medicine, since it is in this form that the therapeutic substances are concentrated. Dry matter contains the most fiber and protein, but we won't focus on that. Polyphenols come to the fore, most of which are flavonoids. They are highly effective in fighting free radicals and therefore have powerful antioxidant properties. The valuable substances also include ascorbic acid, various beta-carotenes, large amounts of folic acid and trace elements, including iron, magnesium and calcium. It's also worth noting that the leaves can be a rich source of compounds with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties, as well as those that affect blood sugar levels. We are talking about alkaloids, whose representatives can be 5-imino-D-sorbitol (DNJ), for example. It has been the subject of research for a very long time since its effects on our body are quite large. So is quercetin – a chemical compound that blocks the action of aldose reductase. This is important because it synthesizes sorbitol when there is excess glucose in the blood. On the other hand, an excess of sorbitol can negatively affect the functions of the liver, kidneys, almost the entire nervous system and the eyes.

The influence of white mulberry on the body's carbohydrate metabolism

Against the background of many properties of this plant, the glycemia-influencing ones are certainly in the foreground. Finally, various extracts and infusions from its leaves are an important part of antidiabetic drugs, but they can also be a therapeutic form themselves. This is mainly due to the effectiveness of the effect, but also to the relatively high safety of such products. They do not cause various side effects like some drugs do. These include, for example, excessive sleepiness, diarrhea, gas, impaired perception and listlessness. High efficiency is also due to the ability to inhibit or significantly slow down the action of many enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates. The Adisakwattan et al. In this case we are talking about a decrease in the activity of the first enzyme of almost 60%, while in the case of sucrase it was about 50%. Even better results have been obtained by combining these extracts with other plant chemical compounds, including those derived from garden chrysanthemum and sorrel. Interestingly, white mulberry showed practically no effect on alpha-amylase, however, this effect changed significantly after using the above plants. This meant that such a coupage acted on almost all the enzymes responsible for digesting carbohydrates. There are also various studies that have been done on laboratory animals. They cover the fact that, apart from affecting enzymes, white mulberry increases the level of insulin in the blood. So far, however, the mechanism of this relationship is not fully understood. It is worth noting that increasing insulin levels is very beneficial for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. However, the situation is completely different for patients with insulin resistance, because such a long-lasting condition can significantly accelerate the course of the disease and subsequently lead to the development of a full-fledged type II diabetes.

White mulberry and lipid profile

Research also shows that white mulberry leaf extracts and infusions affect the lipid profile of people with diabetes, but not only. Applied over a period of about 30 days, they enabled a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol levels, but also in blood triglycerides. It's true that these studies were conducted on rats, but the researchers assure us that the results are really promising. It is worth noting that similar effects were observed in the group of diabetics given such extracts. Over a similar period of time, they reduced LDL cholesterol by an average of 23%, while at the same time a modest increase in good cholesterol (HDL) was observed in virtually all patients included in the study. This suggests that dietary supplements containing mulberry extracts can be extremely helpful in preventing cardiovascular disease, preventing the occurrence of coronary artery atherosclerosis, as well as heart attacks and strokes.

What else influences the white mulberry?

Although most of the positive effects of mulberry are aimed at lowering blood sugar, it affects other parts of our body. There are reports that it allows you to reduce body weight, which will certainly affect our health. However, it is worth remembering that it can only support this process, and together with any dietary supplement it is worth eating well and taking care of physical activity. However, that doesn't change the fact that it has some effect on cellular metabolism, which amplifies that effect. Mulberry fruits, in turn, can be very helpful in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. They contain large amounts of cyadin, which has a protective effect on the brain endothelium, thereby delaying the progression of the disease and reducing the risk of its occurrence.

White mulberry - contraindications for use

Although white mulberry is a safe and well-researched supplement, there are several situations when we should not take it. First, it can be a strong allergen. Therefore, if you experience any allergic symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately. Allergy sufferers, especially those who are allergic to a wide variety of chemical substances, should refrain from using it. In addition, caution should be exercised during pregnancy, because the effect of mulberry in such a state is practically untested. In diabetics, however, despite the many positive effects of mulberries in terms of lowering blood sugar and influencing insulin levels, use should be discussed with the attending physician. This is primarily due to the fact that the action of mulberry infusions or extracts in combination with antidiabetic drugs can lead to dangerous hypoglycemia, hypoglycemia, and thus endanger the health and life of the patient.

summary

White mulberry is certainly an incredibly useful plant, both in terms of flavor and potential health benefits. It is true that its action is mainly aimed at regulating the system's carbohydrate metabolism, but let's remember its effects on almost the entire body. For people struggling with insulin resistance or diabetes, it is worth consulting a doctor before starting white mulberry supplementation to avoid possible complications.

bibliography

1. Peter F. Stevens, Angiosperm Phylogen Website , Missouri Botanical Garden, 2001- [Accessed 2010-01-19] (Eng.).
2. _{Grześkowiak, M. Łochyńska, Biologically active compounds of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) and their therapeutic effects, Postępy Fitoterapia 1/2017, http://www.postepyfitoterapia.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/06 /pf_2017_031 -035.pdf}
3. Grześkowiak, J., Łochyńska, M. (2017). Bioactive Compounds of White Mulberry ( White mulberry ) and their therapeutic effect. Post Phytoter , 18(1), 31-35.
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5. Tian, S., Wang, M., Liu, C. Zhao, H. & Zhao, B. (2019) Mulberry foliage reduces inflammation and insulin resistance in mice with type 2 diabetes through TLRs and insulin signaling pathway. BMC supplement switch Med, 19(1):326.
6. Adisakwattana, S., Ruengsamran, T., Kampa, P., & Sompong, W. (2012). In vitro inhibitory effects of plant-based foods and their combinations on intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase. BMC supplement switch med , 12:110.
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