Transformation of mulberry polyphenols by Lactobacillus plantarum SC-5: Increasing phenolic acids and enhancement of anti-aging effect.

Fermentation can transform bioactive compounds in food and improve their biological activity. This study aims to explore the transformation of polyphenols in mulberry juice and the improvement of its anti-aging effect. The results demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum SC-5 transformed anthocyanin in mulberry juice into more phenolic acids, especially improved 2-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid from 4.16 ± 0.06 to 10.07 ± 0.03. In the D-gal-induced mouse model, fermented mulberry juice significantly raised the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae (303.7 %) and Lactobacillaceae (237.2 %) and Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in intestine, further reducing the level of oxidative stress (12.3 %). Meanwhile, the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increased, which protected the integrity of hippocampal tissue. Morris water maze results approved that fermented mulberry juice improved cognitive ability in aging mice (30.3 %). This study provides theoretical support for the view that fermentation is an effective means of developing functional foods.

Structurally Diverse Stilbenoids as Potent α-Glucosidase Inhibitors with Antidiabetic Effect from Morus alba.

Fifteen stilbenoid derivatives, including five previously undescribed ones (albaphenols A-E, 1-5) with diverse scaffolds, were obtained from the well-known agricultural economic tree Morus alba. Their structures, including absolute stereochemistries, were fully characterized by detailed interpretation of spectroscopic data and quantum chemical computational analyses of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electric circular dichroism (ECD). Albaphenol A (1) features an unprecedented rearranged carbon skeleton incorporating a novel 2-oxaspiro[bicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6,3'-furan] motif; albaphenol C (3) is likely derived from a cometabolite through an interesting intramolecular transesterification reaction; and albaphenol E (5) bears a cleavage-reconnection scaffold via a dioxane ring. All of the compounds exhibited significant inhibition against the diabetic target α-glucosidase, with low to submicromole IC50 values (0.70-8.27 µM), and the binding modes of selected molecules with the enzyme were further investigated by fluorescence quenching, kinetics, and molecular docking experiments. The antidiabetic effect of the most active and abundant mulberrofuran G (6) was further assessed in vivo in diabetic mice, revealing potent antihyperglycemic activity and comparable antidiabetic efficacy to the clinical drug acarbose.

A Comparison of Phenolic, Flavonoid, and Amino Acid Compositions and In Vitro Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activities in Thai Plant Protein Extracts.

The leaves of mulberry, Azolla spp., sunflower sprouts, cashew nut, and mung bean are considered rich sources of plant protein with high levels of branched-chain amino acids. Furthermore, they contain beneficial phytochemicals such as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that an adequate consumption of amino acids can reduce nerve cell damage, delay the onset of memory impairment, and improve sleep quality. In this study, protein isolates were prepared from the leaves of mulberry, Azolla spp., sunflower sprouts, cashew nut, and mung bean. The amino acid profile, dietary fiber content, phenolic content, and flavonoid content were evaluated. Pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anticholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activities, were also assessed. This study found that concentrated protein from mung beans has a higher quantity of essential amino acids (52,161 mg/100 g protein) compared to concentrated protein from sunflower sprouts (47,386 mg/100 g protein), Azolla spp. (42,097 mg/100 g protein), cashew nut (26,710 mg/100 g protein), and mulberry leaves (8931 mg/100 g protein). The dietary fiber content ranged from 0.90% to 3.24%, while the phenolic content and flavonoid content ranged from 0.25 to 2.29 mg/g and 0.01 to 2.01 mg/g of sample, respectively. Sunflower sprout protein isolates exhibited the highest levels of dietary fiber (3.24%), phenolic content (2.292 ± 0.082 mg of GAE/g), and flavonoids (2.014 mg quercetin/g of sample). The biological efficacy evaluation found that concentrated protein extract from sunflower sprouts has the highest antioxidant activity; the percentages of inhibition of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical were 20.503 ± 0.288% and 18.496 ± 0.105%, respectively. Five plant-based proteins exhibited a potent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition, and GABA-T ranging from 3.42% to 24.62%, 6.14% to 20.16%, and 2.03% to 21.99%, respectively. These findings suggest that these plant protein extracts can be used as natural resources for developing food supplements with neuroprotective activity.

Investigating the impact of ultrasound-assisted treatment on the crafting of mulberry leaf protein and whey isolate complex: A comprehensive analysis of structure and functionality.

Mulberry leaf protein (MLP) is a nutrient-rich protein, but its applicability is limited because of its poor solubility. To address this issue, this study combines MLP with whey protein isolates (WPI), known for the high nutritional value, and subsequently forms composite protein nanoparticles using the ultrasound-assisted pH shifting method. Microscopic observation and SDS-PAGE confirmed the binding between these two proteins. Fluorescence spectra and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis supported the involvement of electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic attractions, and hydrogen bonding in the formation of stable complex nanoparticles. The interactions between the proteins became stronger after ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting treatment. Solubility, emulsification capacity, foaming, and antioxidant activity, among other indicators, demonstrate that the prepared composite nanoparticles exhibit favorable functional properties. The study successfully illustrates the creation of protein-based complex nanoparticles through the ultrasound-assisted pH shifting method, with potential applications in the delivery of bioactive compounds.

Mulberry polyphenols restored both small and large intestinal microflora in db/db mice, potentially alleviating type 2 diabetes.

Polyphenols in mulberry fruit have potential anti-diabetic effects by targeting the gut microbiota. This study investigated how mulberry polyphenols (MPs) influence the microbiota of the small and large intestines and their effects on type 2 diabetes symptoms. The results showed lower microbiota densities in the small intestine. MP treatments improved microbiota richness and diversity in both intestines, similar to metformin. In particular, at a 400 mg kg-1 dose, mulberry polyphenols decreased Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, and Bacilli, while increasing Bacteroidetes, leading to elevated propionate and butyrate levels. Less abundant small intestinal microbiota, like Enterobacterales, Mycoplasmatales, Enterobacteriaceae, and Ureaplasma, were involved in regulating blood glucose and insulin levels. Functional analysis suggested that mulberry polyphenols reshaped the small intestinal microbiota to influence blood glucose balance via unknown pathways, while in the large intestine, they primarily affected blood glucose through carbohydrate transport and metabolism. Based on their ability to regulate the composition of intestinal flora, MPs likely improved glucose homeostasis by enhancing glucose utilization, supporting pancreatic tissue health, and increasing serum antioxidant capacity. However, the specific mechanisms underlying this potential are yet to be fully explored. This study provides new insights into the influence of MPs on remodeling the microbiota residing in both the small and large intestines, which thereby may contribute to the improvement of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

Biological potential, chemical profiling, and molecular docking study of Morus alba L. extracts.

Morus alba L. is a plant with a long history of dietary and medicinal uses. We hypothesized that M. alba possesses a significant biological potential. In that sense, we aimed to generate the chemical, antimicrobial, toxicological, and molecular profile of M. alba leaf and fruit extracts. Our results showed that extracts were rich in vitamin C, phenols, and flavonoids, with quercetin and pterostilbene concentrated in the leaf, while fisetin, hesperidin, resveratrol, and luteolin were detected in fruit. Extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. The widest inhibition zones were in Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591. The values of the minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 15.62 µg/ml in Enterococcus faecalis to 500 µg/ml in several bacteria. Minimum bactericidal concentration ranged from 31.25 µg/ml to 1000 µg/ml. Extracts impacted the biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent and species-specific manner. A significant difference in the frequency of nucleoplasmic bridges between the methanolic extract of fruit (0.5 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml, 2 µg/ml), as well as for the frequency of micronuclei between ethanolic extract of leaf (2 µg/ml) and the control group was observed. Molecular docking suggested that hesperidin possesses the highest binding affinity for multidrug efflux transporter AcrB and acyl-PBP2a from MRSA, as well as for the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. This study, by complementing previous research in this field, gives new insights that could be of great value in obtaining a more comprehensive picture of the Morus alba L. bioactive potential, chemical composition, antimicrobial and toxicological features, as well as molecular profile.

Positive effects and mechanism of mulberry leaf extract on alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) on alleviating fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in laying hens. The 576 Jing Fen laying hens of 56 weeks of age with good health and similar weights (1.76 ± 0.17 kg) were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 8 replicates in each group and 12 chickens in each replicate. The experiment lasted 56 d. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal diet. The FLHS group was fed a high energy-low protein (HELP) diet, and the other four experimental groups were fed HELP diets supplemented with 0.04, 0.40, 0.80, and 1.20% MLE, respectively. The results showed that HELP treatment significantly induced liver injury, which indicated that the FLHS model was successfully established. MLE supplementation could alleviate the FLHS by reducing the liver index, abdominal fat percentage, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the serum (P < 0.05), and subsequently increase the egg production rate (P < 0.05). The laying hens fed 0.8% MLE exhibited the greatest production performance (P < 0.05) and could improve serum lipid levels. In addition, the genes associated with fatty acid synthesis (ACC, HMGR and SREBP-1C) were downregulated (P < 0.05), and genes related to fatty acid oxidation (CPT1A, AMPK, and ATGL) were found to be upregulated (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 1.2% MLE significantly reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Desulfurized Bacillus (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the relative abundance of Fecal Bacillus (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MLE may regulate the mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes through the AMPK signaling pathway and improve cecal microbiota balance and serum lipid levels to alleviate FLHS in laying hens and subsequently improve egg production performance.

The lipase inhibitory effect of mulberry leaf phenolic glycosides: The structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action.

The present study found for the first time that phenolic glycosides were an important material basis for mulberry leaves to inhibit lipase. The corresponding IC50 for hyperoside, rutin, astragalin and quercetin were 68, 252, 385 and 815 µg/mL respectively. The inhibitory effect was ranked as monoglycosides > phenolic hydroxyl groups > disaccharides on the benzone ring. Hyperoside bound to lipase in competitive inhibition type with one binding site, while the others bound to lipase in a mixed inhibition type by two similar sites. All four compounds altered the microenvironment and secondary conformation of lipase through static quenching. The docking score, stability, and binding energy were consistent with the compound inhibitory activity. The main binding between compounds and lipase amino acid residues were spontaneously though hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The strong hydrogen bonds formed with SER-152 inside the lipase pocket, might be important for the strong inhibitory activity of hyperoside.

Effect of Low-Dose Mulberry Fruit Extract on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses: A Randomized Pilot Trial in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes.

Adding mulberry fruit extract (MFE) to carbohydrate-rich meals can reduce postprandial glucose (PPG) and insulin (PPI) responses in healthy individuals. This pilot study assessed the acute postprandial effects of low doses of MFE in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In a randomized cross-over (within-subjects) design, 24 unmedicated adult males and females with type 2 diabetes (mean [SD] age 51.0 [9.3] yr, BMI 27.5 [3.9] kg/m2) consumed meals with 0 (control), 0.37, and 0.75 g of MFE added to ~50 g of available carbohydrates from rice. Primary and secondary outcomes were the PPG 2 hr positive incremental area under the curve and the corresponding PPI. Results were reported as mean differences from the control meal with 95% CI. Relative to control, 0.37 and 0.75 g of MFE reduced the mean 2 hr PPG by 8.2% (-20.8 to 6.6%) and 22.4% (-38.6 to -1.9%), respectively, and reduced PPI by 9.6% (-20.7 to 3.0%) and 17.5% (-27.9 to -5.7%). There were no indications of adverse events or gastrointestinal discomfort. MFE additions also led to dose-related reductions in glucose peak and glucose swing. At these levels, MFE appears to dose-dependently reduce acute PPG and PPI in individuals with type 2 diabetes and may be a feasible dietary approach to help attenuate glycemic exposures.

A Novel Nutraceutical Supplement Lowers Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels upon a Carbohydrate-Rich Meal or Sucrose Drink Intake in Healthy Individuals-A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Feeding Study.

BACKGROUND: Alkaloid- and polyphenol-rich white mulberry leaf and apple peel extracts have been shown to have potential glucose-lowering effects, benefitting the control of postprandial blood glucose levels. This study aimed to determine the effect of the combination of Malus domestica peel and Morus alba leaf extracts (GLUBLOCTM) on postprandial blood glucose and insulin-lowering effects in healthy adults after a carbohydrate-rich meal or sucrose drink intake. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized, crossover, single-blinded clinical trial. Out of 116 healthy participants, 85 subjects (aged 18-60 years) completed the day 1 and 5 crossover study. On day 1, subjects were supplemented with a placebo or GLUBLOCTM tablet 10 min before the carbohydrate-rich meal (300 g of tomato rice) or sucrose drink intake (75 g of sucrose dissolved in 300 mL water). On day 5, the treatments were crossed over, and the same diet was followed. Postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels were measured on days 1 and 5 (baseline 0, post-meal 30, 60, 90, and 120 min). Differences in iAUC, Cmax, and Tmax were determined between the placebo and GLUBLOCTM-treated cohorts. RESULTS: Significant changes in total iAUC (0-120 min), Cmax, and Tmax of postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels were noticed upon GLUBLOCTM supplementation. The percentage reduction in the iAUC of blood glucose levels was 49.78% (iAUC0-60min) and 43.36% (iAUC0-120min), respectively, compared with the placebo in the sucrose drink intake study. Similarly, there was a 41.13% (iAUC0-60min) and 20.26% (iAUC0-120min) glucose-lowering effect compared with the placebo in the carbohydrate-rich meal intake study. CONCLUSIONS: Premeal supplementation with GLUBLOCTM significantly reduced the postprandial surge in blood glucose and insulin levels after a carbohydrate-rich meal or sucrose drink intake over 120 min in healthy individuals. This study proves that GLUBLOCTM can manage steady postprandial blood glucose levels.

Subchronic oral toxicity study of the synbiotic mulberry in male and female Wistar rats.

Mulberry (Morus alba L) fruit is traditionally used in Chinese medicine and has several beneficial effects, such as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-oxidative effects. We previously developed the synbiotic mulberry (SM) containing probiotic Lactobacilli, prebiotic inulin, and mulberry powder. In food supplement development, toxicity is the most important criterion in food and drug regulations before commercialization. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the subchronic toxicity of SM in male and female Wistar rats to evaluate its biosafety. The subchronic toxicity study was conducted by daily oral administration of SM at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kgBW for 90 days. Male and female rats were evaluated for body weight, organ coefficients, biochemical and hematological parameters, and vital organ histology. The results showed no mortality or toxic changes in the subchronic toxicity study. These results suggested that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of SM in male and female rats has been considered at 1000 mg/kgBW for subchronic toxicity study.

[Study on the total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of Morus nigra Linn. from different origins in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: Optimization of the extraction process of total flavonoids from Morus nigra Linn. based on response surface design, to compare the differences in total flavonoid content of Morus nigra Linn. from different origins in Xinjiang and its relationship with antioxidant activity. METHODS: A one-way test was used to investigate the effects of ethanol volume fraction, material-liquid ratio, ultrasonic power and ultrasonic time on total flavonoid content analysis of Morus nigra Linn. , Box-Behnken response surface design optimisation was used to derive the optimal extraction process parameters. Meanwhile, the in vitro antioxidant activity of Morus nigra Linn. was evaluated by antioxidant activity indexes such as hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity and ferric ion reducing capacity. RESULTS: The optimal extraction condition was 45% ethanol by volume, 1∶20 g/mL material-liquid ratio, 300W ultrasound power and 60 min ultrasound time. The total flavonoid content of Morus nigra Linn. s from six origins was detected and the result showed that Kuche >Kashgar >Kuche Wuqia Town>Hetian >Ying jisha >Yutian, in which the total flavonoid content of mulberry in Kucha city was(27.159±0.091)mg/g. The difference in the total flavonoid content of Morus nigra Linn. s in different origicns was statistically significant(P<0.05). In vitro antioxidant activity analysis showed that the antioxidant activity of mulberry from Kuche and Hetian was stronger, and the hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, ferric ion reducing capacity, and total antioxidant capacity of mulberry from various origins were statistically significant(P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the total flavonoid content of Morus nigra Linn. was correlated with the antioxidant capacity to improve the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonic-assisted method of extracting total flavonoids from Morus nigra Linn. is simple, and the model constructed has a high degree of fit, which can better compare the total flavonoids content of Morus nigra Linn. from different origins in Xinjiang.

Stabilization effect and interaction mechanism of mannoprotein on anthocyanins in mulberry juice.

This study aimed to investigate the problem of color instability in mulberry juice, examine the effect of mannoprotein (MP) dosage on improving the stability of anthocyanins in mulberry juice, and explore the molecular binding mechanism between them. As the mass ratio of anthocyanins to MP of 1.07 × 10-3: 1-1.65 × 10-3: 1, the retention rates of anthocyanins in mulberry juice and simulated system were significantly improved in the photostability experiment, with the highest increase of 128.89 % and 24.11 %, respectively. In the thermal stability experiment, it increased by 7.96 % and 18.49 %, respectively. The synergistic effect of combining MP with anthocyanins has been demonstrated to greatly enhance their antioxidant capacity, as measured by ABTS, FRAP, and potassium ferricyanide reduction method. Furthermore, MP stabilized more anthocyanins to reach the intestine in simulated in vitro digestion. MP and cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) interacted with each other through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Specific amino acid residues involved of MP in binding process were identified as threonine (THR), isoleucine (ILE) and arginine (ARG). The identification of the effective mass concentration ratio range and binding sites of MP and anthocyanins provided valuable insights for the application of MP in mulberry juice.

Screening for promising multi-target bioactive components from Cortex Mori Radicis for the treatment of chronic cor pulmonale based on immobilized beta1-adrenergic receptor and beta2-adrenergic receptor chromatography.

Cortex Morin Radicis (CMR) is the dried root bark of Morus alba. L. It has a variety of effects such as antibacterial, anti-tumour, treatment of cardiovascular diseases or upper respiratory tract disease and so on. The pursuit for drugs selected from Cortex Mori Radicis having improved therapeutic efficacy necessitates increasing research on new assays for screening bioactive compounds with multi-targets. In this work, we applied immobilized ß1-AR and ß2-AR as the stationary phase in chromatographic column to screen bioactive compounds from Cortex Morin Radicis. Specific ligands of the two receptors (e.g. esmolol, metoprolol, atenolol, salbutamol, methoxyphenamine, tulobuterol and clorprenaline) were utilized to characterize the specificity and bioactivity of the columns. We used high performance affinity chromatography coupled with ESI-MS to screen targeted compounds of Cortex Morin Radicis. By zonal elution, we identified morin as a bioactive compound simultaneously binding to ß1-AR and ß2-AR. The compound exhibited the association constants of 3.10 × 104 and 2.60 × 104 M-1 on the ß1-AR and ß2-AR column. On these sites, the dissociation rate constants were calculated to be 0.131 and 0.097 s-1. Molecular docking indicated that the binding of morin to the two receptors occurred on Asp200, Asp121, and Val122 of ß1-AR, Asn312, Thr110, Asp113, Tyr316, Gly90, Phe193, Ile309, and Trp109 of ß2-AR. Likewise, mulberroside C was identified as the bioactive compound binding to ß2-AR. The association constants and dissociation rate constants were calculated to be 1.08 × 104 M-1 and 0.900 s-1. Molecular docking also indicated that mulberroside C could bind to ß2-AR receptor on its agonist site. Taking together, we demonstrated that the chromatographic strategy to identify bioactive natural products based on the ß1-AR and ß2-AR immobilization, has potential for screening bioactive compounds with multi-targets from complex matrices including traditional Chinese medicines.

Study on the Structure and Properties of Silk Fibers Obtained from Factory All-Age Artificial Diets.

The traditional production mode of the sericulture industry is no longer suitable for the development requirements of modern agriculture; to facilitate the sustainable development of the sericulture industry, factory all-age artificial diet feeding came into being. Understanding the structural characteristics and properties of silk fibers obtained from factory all-age artificial diet feeding is an important prerequisite for application in the fields of textiles, clothing, biomedicine, and others. However, there have been no reports so far. In this paper, by feeding silkworms with factory all-age artificial diets (AD group) and mulberry leaves (ML group), silk fibers were obtained via two different feeding methods. The structure, mechanical properties, hygroscopic properties, and degradation properties were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Structurally, no new functional groups appeared in the AD group. Compared with the ML group, the structure of the two groups was similar, and there was no significant difference in mechanical properties and moisture absorption. The structure of degummed silk fibers is dominated by crystalline regions, but α-chymotrypsin hydrolyzes the amorphous regions of silk proteins, so that after 28 d of degradation, the weight loss of both is very small. This provides further justification for the feasibility of factory all-age artificial diets for silkworms.

Contribution of Extracellular Particles Isolated from Morus sp. (Mulberry) Fruit to Their Reported Protective Health Benefits: An In Vitro Study.

Morus sp. (mulberry) has a long tradition of use as a medicinal treatment, including for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, being shown to have antioxidant properties and to promote wound healing. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are sub-micron, membrane-enclosed particles that were first identified in mammalian bodily fluids. EV-like particles have been described in plants (PDVs) and shown to have similar characteristics to mammalian EVs. We hypothesised that some of the health benefits previously attributed to the fruit of Morus sp. could be due to the release of PDVs. We isolated PDVs from Morus nigra and Morus alba via ultracentrifugation and incubated THP-1 monocytes, differentiated THP-1 macrophages, or HMEC-1 endothelial cells with pro-oxidant compounds DMNQ (THP-1) and glucose oxidase (HMEC-1) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence of different fractions of mulberry EVs. Mulberry EVs augmented ROS production with DMNQ in THP-1 and caused the downregulation of ROS in HMEC-1. Mulberry EVs increased LPS-induced IL-1ß secretion but reduced CCL2 and TGF-ß secretion in THP-1 macrophages. In scratch wound assays, mulberry EVs inhibited HMEC-1 migration but increased proliferation in both low and high serum conditions, suggesting that they have opposing effects in these two important aspects of wound healing. One of the limitations of plant-derived therapeutics has been overcoming the low bioavailability of isolated compounds. We propose that PDVs could provide the link between physiological dose and therapeutic benefit by protecting plant active compounds in the GIT as well as potentially delivering genetic material or proteins that contribute to previously observed health benefits.

Understanding the Impact of Different Doses of Reducose® Mulberry Leaf Extract on Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses after Eating a Complex Meal: Results from a Double-Blind, Randomised, Crossover Trial.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming an increasingly important health concern due to a rapidly ageing global population. The fastest growing NCD, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is responsible for over 2 million deaths annually. Lifestyle changes, including dietary changes to low glycemic response (GR) foods, have been shown to reduce the risk of developing T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate whether three different doses of Reducose®, a mulberry leaf extract, could lower the GR and insulinemic responses (IR) to a full meal challenge in healthy individuals. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, repeat-measure, crossover design trial was conducted by the Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health; 37 healthy individuals completed the study. Participants consumed capsules containing either 200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg Reducose® or placebo before a test meal consisting of 150 g white bread and egg mayo filler. Capillary blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals in the first hour and at 30-min intervals over the second and third hours to determine glucose and plasma insulin levels. The consumption of all three doses of Reducose® resulted in significantly lower blood glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to placebo. All three doses of Reducose® (200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg) significantly lowered glucose iAUC 120 by 30% (p = 0.003), 33% (p = 0.001) and 32% (p = 0.002), respectively, compared with placebo. All three doses of Reducose® (200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg) significantly lowered the plasma insulin iAUC 120 by 31% (p = 0.024), 34% (p = 0.004) and 38% (p < 0.001), respectively. The study demonstrates that the recommended dose (250 mg) and two lower doses (200 mg, 225 mg) of Reducose® can be used to help lower the GR and IR of a full meal containing carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Investigating the Hepatoprotective Properties of Mulberry Leaf Flavonoids against Oxidative Stress in HepG2 Cells.

Oxidative stress significantly contributes to ageing and disease, with antioxidants holding promise in mitigating its effects. Functional foods rich in flavonoids offer a potential strategy to mitigate oxidative damage by free radicals. We investigated the protective effects of mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLF) against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. It assessed the inhibitory effect of MLF (62.5-500 µg/mL) on H2O2-induced oxidative damage by analyzing cellular morphology and oxidative stress markers, including ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential, antioxidant enzyme levels, MDA, and apoptosis-related proteins. The results demonstrated that MLF prevented spiny cell formation triggered by 750 µM H2O2 and significantly reduced ROS levels, restored mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased lactate dehydrogenase and alanine transaminase leakage, and reduced MDA content induced by H2O2. MLF also modulated antioxidant enzymes and attenuated oxidative damage to HepG2 cell DNA, as confirmed by staining techniques. These findings indicate the potential of MLF as a hepatoprotective agent against oxidative damage in HepG2 cells.

Neurite outgrowth promotion in PC12 cells by 24(R)-ethyllophenol from Morus alba.

We examined the mechanism by which 24(R)-ethyllophenol (MAB28) isolated from the branches of Morus alba caused neurite outgrowth in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). MAB28 significantly promoted neurite outgrowth to a similar degree as the positive control, nerve growth factor (NGF). After incubation with MAB28 in PC12 cells, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein was detected, but the time course of phosphorylation was different from that induced by NGF. The expression of chloride intracellular channel protein 3 (CLIC3) was significantly decreased by MAB28. 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB), an outward rectifying chloride channel inhibitor, significantly promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. These data suggested that MAB28 could induce neurite outgrowth by downregulating CLIC3 expression.