Search Results (165)

In the context of a rapidly expanding global population, mulberry leaf protein emerges as an emerging source of plant protein, with most applications currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL), presenting substantial potential for application in functional foods and nutraceuticals. This paper analyzes three key advantages of mulberry leaf protein. Firstly, the abundant and inexpensive production of mulberry leaves establishes a solid foundation for large-scale protein extraction. Secondly, advancements in the preparation processes and production technology for mulberry leaf protein have further enhanced its viability. Thirdly, mulberry leaf protein boasts excellent nutritional value and outstanding functional properties, along with multiple biological activities, including antioxidant effects, aging delay, and blood-pressure-lowering activity. These superior qualities considerably broaden its range of applications. Furthermore, this paper evaluates existing research (before 30 June 2025) while exploring prospective avenues for future investigation. The findings of this review are important for enhancing the understanding of the potential applications of mulberry leaf protein in food science and nutrition. The aim is to provide new ideas for the efficient utilization of mulberry leaf protein resources and the establishment of a global food security system. Full article

Background/Objectives: Postprandial hyperglycemia is a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, even in healthy individuals. Kanzaki mulberry leaf and water chestnut tea (MW tea), a blend of mulberry (Morus alba) leaves and water chestnut (Trapa japonica) leaves and husks, is rich in polyphenols and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and may suppress postprandial glucose spikes, but evidence regarding its short-term daily intake is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the postprandial glycemic response and safety of two-week MW tea consumption using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period crossover trial involving 31 participants. Each intervention period lasted two weeks, separated by a one-week washout. Participants consumed either MW tea or a placebo before meals. Interstitial glucose levels were measured every 15 min using CGM. Postprandial glucose responses were recorded every 15 min for 180 min after a standardized meal on the first day of each period. The primary outcome was the coefficient of variation (CV) in glucose levels, calculated using data from the central 10 days of each intervention period. Safety was assessed using CGM-derived hypoglycemia metrics and blood test results. Results: The CV of glucose levels during the MW tea period was significantly lower than during the placebo period (mean difference: 0.02, p = 0.0006). A significant reduction in 1 h postprandial glucose area under the curve was also observed. No significant differences were found in hypoglycemia occurrence, liver/renal/inflammatory markers, or self-reported adverse symptoms. Notably, 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) levels significantly increased during MW tea intake, suggesting improved glycemic control. Conclusions: Short-term consumption of Kanzaki MW tea effectively suppressed postprandial glucose variability without safety concerns. These findings support MW tea as a promising natural supplement for glycemic management and the prevention of diabetes. Full article

Mulberry (Morus spp.), as an economically significant crop in sericulture and medicinal applications, faces severe threats to leaf yield and quality from pest and disease infestations. Traditional detection methods relying on chemical pesticides and manual observation prove inefficient and unsustainable. Although computer vision and deep learning technologies offer new solutions, existing models exhibit limitations in natural environments, including low recognition rates for small targets, insufficient computational efficiency, poor adaptability to occlusions, and inability to accurately identify structural features such as leaf veins. We propose Mamba-YOLO-ML, an optimized model addressing three key challenges in vision-based detection: Phase-Modular Design (PMSS) with dual blocks enhancing multi-scale feature representation and SSM selective mechanisms and Mamba Block, Haar wavelet downsampling preserving critical texture details, and Normalized Wasserstein Distance loss improving small-target robustness. Visualization analysis of the detection performance on the test set using GradCAM revealed that the enhanced Mamba-YOLO-ML model demonstrates earlier and more effective focus on characteristic regions of different diseases compared with its predecessor. The improved model achieved superior detection accuracy with 78.2% mAP50 and 59.9% mAP50:95, outperforming YOLO variants and comparable Transformer-based models, establishing new state-of-the-art performance. Its lightweight architecture (5.6 million parameters, 13.4 GFLOPS) maintains compatibility with embedded devices, enabling real-time field deployment. This study provides an extensible technical solution for precision agriculture, facilitating sustainable mulberry cultivation through efficient pest and disease management. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses often occur concomitantly, and they are key causative factors in various human and animal diseases. Evidence suggests that mulberry leaf protein (MLP) may have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but there are significant challenges in enhancing their bioactivities. In this study, MLP was enzymatically hydrolyzed using papain, protamex, alkaline protease, trypsin, and neutral protease, followed by comprehensive evaluation of the antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory properties, and cytotoxicity of the hydrolysates. Our findings revealed that some enzymes significantly enhanced the peptide production and antioxidant activity of MLP (p < 0.01), and its activity was positively correlated with the degree of hydrolysis. Among the five hydrolysates, neutral protease hydrolysate (NeuH) exhibited the best antioxidant properties, with free radical scavenging rates of 71.58 ± 0.42% (ABTS), 26.38 ± 0.15% (OH), and 73.91 ± 0.37% (DPPH) at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. In addition, NeuH significantly suppressed IL-6 secretion (p < 0.01) and downregulated mRNA expression of IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 inflammatory markers. This study not only establishes a correlation between enzymatic parameters and MLP biological functions but also demonstrates the potential of optimized MLP hydrolysates, particularly NeuH, as valuable natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients for functional foods or nutraceuticals aimed at mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders. Full article

Mulberry is an important plant not only for sericulture but also for the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its rich biochemical profile. However, in temperate climates, its cultivation is limited to the warm season. This study investigates the feasibility of year-round mulberry production using soil-less cultivation techniques. The Kokuso 21 variety was selected, and propagation was initiated from seeds in three different environments: conventional soil beds, an aeroponic system, and in vitro culture using Murashige-Skoog medium. Growth parameters, including plants’ total length, number of internodes, and internode spacing, were measured and correlated with the plants’ biochemical composition, providing new insights into this underexplored mulberry cultivar. Among the tested techniques, the aeroponic system demonstrated the most promising results, with immediate applicability in field conditions, while in vitro propagation remains a viable method for germplasm conservation. These findings indicate that the Kokuso 21 mulberry variety can be successfully cultivated in a controlled, soil-less environment for continuous leaf production throughout the year. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulase have been used as additives to improve the fermentation quality of mulberry silage. This study investigated the dynamics of fermentation characteristics and bacterial communities during 60-day ensiling through three established treatment groups: Control (no inoculation), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) inoculation as well as combination of L. plantarum and cellulase inoculation group (LPC). The results showed that compared with the Control group, the LP and LPC treatments significantly reduced the loss of dry matter, soluble carbohydrates, and crude protein (p < 0.05), effectively promoted the accumulation of lactic acid and acetic acid (p < 0.05), but significantly elevated ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) production. Inoculation was beneficial to the stability of the bacterial community in mulberry branch and leaf silage because it can maintain a high level of beneficial bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus) and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria (Escherichia-Shigella). The combination of the inoculation of L. plantarum and cellulase may improve the quality of mulberry branch silage. Full article

Mulberry (Morus alba) twigs and leaves, rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and alkaloids with multi-target regulatory properties on glucose/lipid metabolism, were evaluated for their anti-obesity effects using methanol-extracted twigs (MTE) and aqueous-extracted leaves (MLE) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Both extracts significantly ameliorated obesity-related metabolic dysregulation, as evidenced by attenuated body weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, serum lipid profiles, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and hepatic inflammation compared to HFD controls (p < 0.05). Concurrently, MTE and MLE enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Notably, high-dose MTE (MTEH, 1000 mg/kg) markedly reduced perirenal adiposity while increasing brown adipose tissue mass (p < 0.05). Mechanistic investigations revealed that MTEH reshaped gut microbiota composition by suppressing Firmicutes and Enterococcus, while enriching beneficial Faecalibaculum and Bifidobacterium spp. (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiling demonstrated MTEH and MLEH-mediated metabolic reprogramming, characterized by increased propionic acid and decreased butyric acid, suggesting microbiota-dependent modulation of host energy metabolism. These findings collectively highlight the potential of mulberry extracts as multi-targeted nutraceuticals for obesity intervention via gut microbiota–SCFA axis regulation. Full article

With the intensification of the population aging worldwide, neurological disorders (NDs) are seriously threatening human society. Mulberry, a traditional economic crop, is a significant medicinal plant. Increasing evidence suggests that phytochemicals from mulberry play critical roles in the prevention and treatment of NDs. This paper reviews the recently reported phytochemicals from mulberry with neuroprotective effects and systematically summarizes neuroprotective mechanisms and their classifications. Based on their origins from different parts of mulberry, the extracts with neuroprotective effects are classified into mulberry fruit extract and mulberry leaf extract. According to the compound structures, the compounds are divided into flavonoids, Diels–Alder-type adducts (DAAs), benzofurans, quinones, stilbenes, and alkaloids. This aims to provide a future reference for their pharmaceutical development and utilization. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammation are critical factors in hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Kombucha, a fermented tea beverage, is enriched with bioactive compounds during fermentation. This study evaluated the antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of kombucha made from mulberry leaf green tea (MLGT) and black tea (MLBT) during in vitro digestion. The bioaccessibility of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), phenolics, and flavonoids was assessed through simulated oral, gastric, and intestinal phases. MLGT kombucha exhibited higher initial antioxidant activity, while MLBT showed greater compound stability and ACE inhibitory activity during digestion. Notably, α-glucosidase inhibition declined significantly in the intestinal phase, in parallel with reduced DNJ and flavonoid content. Strong correlations were observed between specific phenolic acids and bioactivity profiles, highlighting ρ-coumaric and sinapic acids in ACE inhibition and DNJ in antiglycemic activity. These findings demonstrate the functional potential of mulberry leaf kombucha as a beverage to support metabolic health, pending confirmation through in vivo studies. Full article

m⁶A methylation modification is an important genetic modification involved in biological processes such as sexual maturation, antibacterial, and antiviral in aquatic animals. However, few studies have been conducted in aquatic animals on the relationship between m⁶A methylation modification and autophagy-inflammation induced by lipid metabolism disorders. In the present study, a high-fat (HF) group and HF-MLP group (1 g mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs)/1 kg HF diet) were set up. The mid-hind intestines of Megalobrama amblycephala juveniles from the two groups were collected for MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq after an 8-week feeding trial. The m⁶A peaks in the HF and HF-MLP groups were mainly enriched in the 3′ Untranslated Region (3′UTR), Stop codon, and coding sequence (CDS) region. Compared with the HF group, the m⁶A peaks in the HF-MLP group were shifted toward the 5′UTR region. ‘RRACH’ was the common m⁶A methylation motif in the HF and HF-MLP groups. Methyltransferase mettl14 and wtap expression in the intestines of the HF-MLP group were significantly higher compared with the HF group (p < 0.05). A total of 21 differentially expressed genes(DEGs) with different peaks were screened by the combined MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis enriched BCL2 interacting protein 3 (bnip3) to autophagy–animal and mitophagy–animal signaling pathways, etc., and nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat protein 1 (nlrp1) was enriched to the Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway. Combined MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis indicated that the expression pattern of bnip3 was hyper-up and that of nlrp1 was hyper-down. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis confirmed that the intestinal genes of HF-MLP group positively regulate lysosomal and autophagy–animal signaling pathways. In the present study, we demonstrated that m⁶A methylation modification plays a role in regulating autophagy-inflammatory responses induced by HF diets by MLPs, and further explored the molecular mechanisms by which MLPs work from the epigenetic perspective. Full article

Polyphenols and flavonoids are key bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant properties, making them crucial for human health and nutraceutical applications. However, their extraction efficiency and concentrations are influenced by multiple factors, including plant part, cultivar, and solvent selection. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of plant part, cultivar, and solvent type on the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC assays) in different extracts from black mulberry, chokeberry, and elderberry. In all three species, the leaves exhibited significantly higher phytochemical and antioxidant properties than the fruits, with an average increase of 62.8–133.4% in the TPC and 55.4–390.3% in the TFC. Among genotypes, Gümüşhacıköy Horum and Tohma Medik (black mulberry), Viking and Nero (chokeberry), and Tokat (T1) (elderberry) demonstrated the highest levels of bioactive compounds, while Şelale Karadut, Aron, and Haschberg exhibited the lowest values. Solvent selection played a crucial role, with methanol:water:HCl emerging as the most effective extraction medium, increasing the TPC by 27.5–46.3%, the TFC by 28.3–67.6%, and the antioxidant capacity (ABTS and CUPRAC) by up to 94.2% compared to water extraction. These findings indicate the significance of leaf-based bioactive compound extraction and optimized solvent selection for maximizing antioxidant yields. The results of this study also have important implications for both fruit cultivation and human nutrition, highlighting the potential of leaves as a valuable source of polyphenols and antioxidants. Full article

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is resilient to water deficit conditions, and the high protein content of its leaves means they can be used as forage. Therefore, it could be a valuable resource for alleviating the animal feed crisis, but it is crucial that its high productivity and stable traits are sustained to achieve this. We conducted a 2-year field experiment in the North China Plain (NCP), which investigated different irrigation levels (W1 = 15 mm, W2 = 30 mm) and genotypes (Feng Yuan No. 1, Feng Chi). This study demonstrates that using water-saving irrigation coupled with selected genotypes can increase the leaf yield and protein content. We measured various physiological and ecological indicators of mulberry, including the leaf area, fresh leaf weight, dry leaf weight, net photosynthetic rate, leaf water use efficiency (WUE_L) under limited irrigation, protein content, and yield. The results from both years indicate that, under deficit irrigation conditions, Feng Yuan No. 1 exhibited drought resistance while maintaining relatively high and stable growth traits. When the irrigation amount was increased (W2 = 30 mm), the net photosynthetic rate and leaf water use efficiency of Feng Yuan No. 1 were significantly better than those of Feng Chi. Additionally, Feng Yuan No. 1 combined with the W2 irrigation treatment led to a higher protein content of leaves (19.98 g/100 g and 21.19 g/100 g) and greater yield of leaves and branches (9.79 t·ha⁻¹ and 11.19 t·ha⁻¹) in the two years. Furthermore, under deficit irrigation conditions, Feng Yuan No. 1 effectively compensated for yield losses caused by water scarcity. Full article

In northern China, intercropping soybeans with forage mulberry (Morus alba L.) enhances soybean yields through the optimization of natural resource use. However, the mechanisms underlying these improvements remain largely unknown. The aim was to explore the effects of this intercropping on soybean growth and yield. We used transcriptomics, redundancy analysis, and structural equation modeling to evaluate soybean growth, yield, and nodulation; results showed that intercropping did not adversely affect plant height or stem diameter but increased chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, leaf area, and yield of soybean. It also increased soil available phosphorus, soil available potassium and soil water content, while reducing soil available nitrogen and the pH value. It promoted P and organic acid metabolism, transporter activity, and key-gene expression. Redundancy analysis strikingly reveals that intercropping is positively correlated with yield, gene expression and soil properties. Meanwhile, structural equation modeling analysis demonstrates that the content of available phosphorus, available potassium, and water in rhizosphere soil are positively correlated with soybean nodulation. Additionally, nodulation traits can directly enhance nitrogen metabolism, which subsequently boosts photosynthesis and ultimately exerts an indirect positive influence on soybean yield. Furthermore, intercropping soybeans with forage mulberry did not induce shade stress on the above-ground portion of soybeans but promoted its growth and nodulation. Full article

In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted procedure for the extraction of mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) was investigated using response surface methodology with a 29-run Box–Behnken design. Four factors were investigated, and it was found that the factors influencing the process, in order of significance, were the extraction temperature > liquid-to-material ratio > ultrasonic power. Considering practical conditions, the parameters were adjusted to a liquid-to-material ratio of 16:1 mL/g, extraction time of 58 min, extraction temperature of 65 °C, and ultrasonic power of 500 W. Under these conditions, the yield of MLPs was 14.47%, which is close to the predicted value, indicating that the extraction process optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) is feasible. The separation and purification effects of macroporous resin and activated carbon on MLPs were investigated, with the D152 resin being considered the most suitable choice. The optimal separation conditions were found to be a sample concentration of 0.5 g/mL and an optimal flow rate of 1 mL/min. Thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy revealed that polysaccharides extracted from mulberry leaves are primarily composed of rhamnose, xylose, and arabinose. In conclusion, this study successfully optimized the ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of MLPs through response surface methodology, determined the optimal parameter combination, and verified its efficiency and stability. Under the optimal conditions obtained for ultrasonic-assisted extraction, the yield of MLPs is significantly higher than that reported in the previous literature. The decolorization process of crude mulberry leaf polysaccharide extract was also investigated, and the purified MLPs have clear monosaccharide composition and structural characteristics, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for their application in functional food or drug development. Full article

Mulberry leaves contain polysaccharides, phenols, alkaloids, and other active ingredients which have medicinal and edible value. In this study, fermented mulberry leaf powder was prepared by solid-state fermentation using Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30. The effects of the fermentation on the phytochemical, flavor characteristics, phenolics, and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves were studied. The results showed that the content of γ-aminobutyric acid in fermented mulberry leaf powder (FMLP) increased by 6.73-fold and the content of phytic acid decreased by 11.16%. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis showed that the fermentation of Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30 altered the phenolic composition of mulberry leaves, increasing the total free phenolic content by 88.43%. In particular, the contents of free phenols such as leucocyanidin, myricetin, and quercetin increased significantly and were positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. The fermentation of Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30 significantly enhanced the scavenging ability of DPPH free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and the total reducing ability of mulberry leaves. Gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) analysis showed that FMLP has an intense fruity and floral aroma, while having less grassy and earthy odor. The fermentation improved the phytochemical, flavor, and nutritional value of mulberry leaves, which provides more possibilities for the development of mulberry leaf products outside the sericulture industry. Full article