Phytochemical analysis and antidiabetic efficacy of Morus rubra

Mulberry plant as a source of functional food with therapeutic and nutritional applications: A review

Medicinal plants from the family Moraceae have diverse applications in agriculture, cosmetics, food, and the pharmaceutical industry. Their extensive spectrum of pharmacological activity for treating numerous inflammatory illnesses, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal problems reflects their biological and therapeutic value. This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms related to the biological implications of mulberry extracts, fractions, and isolated bioactive compounds from different parts in various health-related ailments. Additionally, the food industry and animal nutrition applications are summarized. Phytochemicals such as steroids, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds including terpenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins are found in this medicinal plant. The aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts, as well as bioactive compounds, have anti-oxidative, hypoglycemic, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-mutagenic, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, immune-modulatory, cardioprotective, and skin protecting activities. Mulberry supplementation in food products improves the stability of phenolics, sensory properties, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial properties. Mulberry leaves in animal feed increase the nutrient digestibility, growth parameters, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review summarized the in vivo and in vitro biological activities of the mulberry and isolated constituents in various health conditions. In addition, the food uses such as antioxidant potential, antimicrobial, and physicochemical properties were discussed. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed mulberry as a significant protein source and its flavonoids as potential animal foliage.

Phytochemical characterization of Morus nigra fruit ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract for its cardioprotective potential

The current work investigated the phytochemical profile of ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract of Morus nigra (M. nigra) fruit. FTIR analysis of M. nigra fruit extract revealed the presence of alcohols (O-H), alkanes (C-H stretch), alkenes (C=C), and alkynes (C≡C). The HPLC analysis quantified the quercetin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, and kaempferol. Furthermore, the cardioprotective activity of ethanolic extract of M. nigra fruit was investigated. Cholesterol supplementation (2%) in the daily diet and exposure to cigarette smoke (2 cigarettes twice a day) were to induce hypertension in rats. The experimental animals were categorized into four groups: G0 (negative control), G1 (positive control), G2 (standard drug), and G3 (M. nigra fruit). The fruit extract administration at 300 mg/kg BW/day orally for 2 months significantly (p < .001) enhanced the activities of serum and cardiac tissue antioxidants in hypertensive rats. Meanwhile, the fruit extract reduced the elevated serum lipid profile while significantly increasing the high-density lipoproteins in G3 than G1 and G2. The increase in blood pressure, liver transaminases, and serum lactate dehydrogenase also reduced significantly in M. nigra fruit extract-treated rats. Histopathological findings revealed mild normalization of cardiac myocytes with central nuclei, branching, and cross-striations. Consequently, the M. nigra fruit extract exerted the cardioprotective potential via increasing the antioxidant enzymes and reducing the lipids, lactate dehydrogenase, liver transaminases, and blood pressure. The therapeutic potential of M. nigra fruit can be due to flavonols and phenolic acids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present work quantified the Morus nigra fruit phytochemicals and its significant role in reducing lipid markers and blood pressure and improving antioxidant status in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and exposed to cigarette smoke. Conclusively, the inclusion of M. nigra fruit in daily diet could improve the cardiac health of the individuals. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of M. nigra fruit and its isolated constituents in modulating the gene expression against cardiac problems can explore after clinical trials and standardization in higher animals.

Investigation of antidiabetic properties of shikonin by targeting aldose reductase enzyme: In silico and in vitro studies

Diabetes is a complicated multifactorial disorder in which the patient generally observes polyphagia, polydipsia, and polyuria due to uncontrolled growth in blood sugar levels. For its management, the pharmaceutical industry is working day and night to find a better drug with no or least toxicity. That's why nowadays a more focused branch is to use herbal phytoconstituents for its prevention. Shikonin is a naphthoquinone natural dye that is isolated from the plants of the Boraginaceae family and has proven its role as an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-gonadotrophic agent. In our previous study, we have published its anti-diabetic action by inhibiting the enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. In this study, we were more focused on finding out the role of Shikonin and its pharmacophores by inhibiting the action of aldose reductase (AR) enzyme. The study was conducted using pharmacophore modeling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), and toxicity profile were also evaluated in this study. Along with all the computational biology parameters we also focused on the in vitro activity and kinetic study of inhibitory activity of Shikonin against aldose reductase.