The Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Fruit-A Review of Characteristic Components and Health Benefits

Time-series analysis reveals metabolic and transcriptional dynamics during mulberry fruit development and ripening

Understanding the global transcriptomic and metabolic changes during mulberry growth and development is essential for the enhancing fruit quality and optimizing breeding strategies. By integrating phenotypic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic data across 18 developmental and ripening stages of Da10 mulberry fruit, a global map of gene expression and metabolic changes was generated. Analysis revealed a gradual progression of morphological, metabolic, and transcriptional changes throughout the development and ripening phases. In this study, a new transcriptome transition, which was highly related to stress resistance, was observed after the full ripening stage. Moreover, a novel method was devised by integrating metabolome and phenotypic data to assess fruit quality and determine optimal harvest times early in the supply chain. Phase-specific co-expression networks involved in photosynthesis, quality regulation, and plant immunity were also constructed. Notably, eight flavonoids and six hub genes emerged as potential natural edible coatings or gene-editing targets for mulberry fruit to enhance resistance against biotic and abiotic stress. These findings should facilitate further research on stress resistance, post-harvest management, and sustainable agricultural development.

Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of Mulberry Fruit Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Male Reproductive Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity represents a significant challenge to male reproductive health, affecting approximately 13% of the global adult population. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence regarding mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit extract's therapeutic potential for HFD-induced male reproductive dysfunction. Through comprehensive analysis of the peer-reviewed literature from multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar; 2005-2024), we evaluated mulberry extract's effects on testicular morphology, spermatogenesis, sperm parameters, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Mechanistic studies reveal that standardized mulberry extract mediates protective effects through multiple pathways: enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: +45%, Catalase: +38%, GPx: +35%), reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α: -64%, IL-6: -58%), and modulated NF-κB signaling (-42.3%). These effects are facilitated by mulberry's rich phytochemical profile, particularly anthocyanins (2.92-5.35 mg/g dry weight) and polyphenols (4.23-6.38 mg/g). The extract demonstrates particular efficacy in preserving seminiferous tubule integrity and maintaining blood-testis barrier function, with treated groups maintaining up to 85% of normal tubular architecture compared to HFD controls. Key molecular mechanisms include AMPK/SIRT1 pathway activation (2.3-fold increase), enhanced mitochondrial function (67% increase in mtDNA copy number), and epigenetic regulation of metabolic pathways. Temporal analysis indicates optimal therapeutic effects after 28 days of treatment, with initial improvements observable within 14 days. While current evidence is promising, limitations include predominant reliance on rodent models and lack of standardized extraction protocols. Future research priorities include well-designed human clinical trials, standardization of preparation methods, and investigation of potential synergistic effects with other therapeutic agents. This comprehensive review indicates that mulberry extract is a promising therapeutic candidate for obesity-related male infertility, warranting further clinical investigation.

Quality Characteristics and Flavor Analysis of Five Mulberry Varieties

For a deeper understanding of the characteristics exhibited by several novel mulberry varieties, the quality attributes and flavor components of five mulberry varieties (Zhongsang 5801, 2000-3, Jialing 40, Yuesang 10, and White Shahtoot Mulberry) were analyzed and compared. Zhongsang 5801 displayed the highest total phenol and flavone levels. Fructose and glucose were the primary sugars identified in the mulberries, with 2000-3 exhibiting the highest fructose content (39.66 ± 11.31 g/kg), whereas Zhongsang 5801 had the highest glucose content (26.19 ± 6.29 g/kg). The key organic acids found in the five mulberry varieties were oxalic acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid. Of them, 2000-3 had the highest malic acid content (0.66 ± 0.02 g/kg). Furthermore, 21 amino acids and 66 volatile components were detected in the five mulberry varieties. The study findings offer valuable insights for assessing, processing, and utilizing different mulberry varieties.

The Role of MaFAD2 Gene in Bud Dormancy and Cold Resistance in Mulberry Trees (Morus alba L.)

Bud dormancy is a critical adaptive trait in woody plants, essential for enduring harsh winter conditions. The relationship between bud break timing and cold resistance is complex and has been a subject of debate. This study utilizes a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) on 201 natural mulberry populations to identify the MaFAD2 gene, which shows the strongest association with bud break timing. Known for its role in cold resistance, MaFAD2's link to bud break timing suggests a direct correlation between these traits. Expression analysis of MaFAD2 in mulberry trees indicates peak activity in dormant buds, declining as dormancy ends. Selective sweep analysis on germplasms from contrasting climates reveals positive selection in MaFAD2 in cold-resistant Uzbek germplasms. Overexpression of MaFAD2 in early-budding germplasms significantly delays bud break, confirming its regulatory role. These findings highlight MaFAD2 as a key determinant of cold tolerance variability among mulberry germplasms, with its expression directly correlated with bud break timing. This provides a molecular basis for selecting cold-resistant mulberry germplasms based on bud break timing in breeding programs.

Mulberroside A attenuates cigarette smoke-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice via the Sirt1-HIF-1α axis

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether Mulberryside A (MBA) can attenuate cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced autophagy through a Sirt1-dependent pathway, thereby attenuating atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

METHODS

After treating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with CSE and MBA, an MTT assay was performed to detect cell activity. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to determine the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, Sirt1 and HIF-1α. Lentivirus and siRNA were used to construct overexpression and silencing (Sirt1 and HIF-1α) models. The in vivo inflammatory effects of CS on atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice were assessed by exposing mice to CS and MBA treatment. HE staining was used to detect atherosclerosis in mouse aortic tissue, and electron microscopy was used to detect autophagy of endothelial cells.

RESULTS

CSE promoted autophagy in HUVECs, down-regulated Sirt1, and up-regulated HIF-1α expression. MBA treatment, overexpression of Sirt1, or silencing of HIF-1α attenuated CSE-induced autophagy, while MBA reversed CSE-induced downregulation of Sirt1 and upregulation of HIF-1α. However, overexpression of HIF-1α increased autophagy in HUVECs and attenuated the protective effect of Sirt1 overexpression or MBA on CSE-induced autophagy in HUVECs. In vivo experiments also demonstrated that MBA attenuates CS-induced aortic autophagy in ApoE-/- mice and up-regulates Sirt1 and downregulates HIF-1α expression.

CONCLUSIONS

MBA attenuates CSE-induced autophagy through the Sirt1-HIF-1α axis, thereby attenuating atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

A novel protein elicitor (Cs08297) from Ciboria shiraiana enhances plant disease resistance

Ciboria shiraiana is a necrotrophic fungus that causes mulberry sclerotinia disease resulting in huge economic losses in agriculture. During infection, the fungus uses immunity elicitors to induce plant tissue necrosis that could facilitate its colonization on plants. However, the key elicitors and immune mechanisms remain unclear in C. shiraiana. Herein, a novel elicitor Cs08297 secreted by C. shiraiana was identified, and it was found to target the apoplast in plants to induce cell death. Cs08297 is a cysteine-rich protein unique to C. shiraiana, and cysteine residues in Cs08297 were crucial for its ability to induce cell death. Cs08297 induced a series of defence responses in Nicotiana benthamiana, including the burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), callose deposition, and activation of defence-related genes. Cs08297 induced-cell death was mediated by leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like kinases BAK1 and SOBIR1. Purified His-tagged Cs08297-thioredoxin fusion protein triggered cell death in different plants and enhanced plant resistance to diseases. Cs08297 was necessary for sclerotial development, oxidative-stress adaptation, and cell wall integrity but negatively regulated virulence of C. shiraiana. In conclusion, our results revealed that Cs08297 is a novel fungal elicitor in fungi inducing plant immunity. Furthermore, its potential to enhance plant resistance provides a new target to control agricultural diseases biologically.

Morin, a matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor, attenuates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis by downregulating Notch-1 signaling

OBJECTIVE

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease poses a significant health challenge globally. Recent findings highlight the pivotal role of the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in atherosclerosis. Morin is a bioflavonoid mainly extracted from white mulberry, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study examines whether morin can alleviate atherosclerosis by suppressing EndMT and seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

We induced an in vitro EndMT model in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by stimulating the cells with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (10 ng/mL) for 48 h. The in vivo experiments were performed in an atherosclerosis model using apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice in the intervention group were given morin (50 mg/kg) orally for 4 weeks. Molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis were assayed to understand the interactions between morin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9).

RESULTS

Morin inhibited the expression of EndMT markers in a dose-dependent manner in TGF-β1-treated HUVECs. Administering 50 μmol/L morin suppressed the upregulation of MMP-9 and Notch-1 signaling in TGF-β1-induced EndMT. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP-9 activated Notch-1 signaling, thereby reversing morin's inhibitory effect on EndMT. In the HFD-induced atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice, morin notably reduced aortic intimal hyperplasia and plaque formation by suppressing EndMT. Furthermore, morin demonstrated a strong binding affinity for MMP-9.

CONCLUSION

Morin acts as an MMP-9 inhibitor to disrupt EndMT in atherosclerosis by limiting the activation of Notch-1 signaling. This study underscores morin's potential utility in the development of anti-atherosclerotic medication. Please cite this article as: He Y, Qin XX, Liu MW, Sun W. Morin, a matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor, attenuates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in atherosclerosis by downregulating Notch-1 Signaling. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(6): 684-696.

Morus alba: natural and valuable effects in weight loss management

Overweight and obesity are conditions associated with serious comorbidities, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Prevalence of excessive fat accumulation is increasing worldwide, and thus the need for efficient and sustainable weight loss regimes has become a major issue in clinical practice. Despite the important advances in the development of anti-obesity medications (AOM), their side effects, cost, and accessibility, are limiting factors for their routine use. Conversely, the studies of medicinal plants for weight management holds strong promise as a growing area of research. This review consolidates the representative evidence about the beneficial impacts of Morus alba on weight management and associated metabolic parameters, encompassing: inhibition of digestive enzymes, and thus contribution to the energy deficit required for weight loss, improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism, and attenuation of adiposity. Findings from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations reviewed in the paper, demonstrate that white mulberry extracts have the potency to supplement efficiently and safely a healthy weight management approach.

An in-depth study of anthocyanin synthesis in the exocarp of virescens and nigrescens oil palm: metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis

BACKGROUND

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a very important tropical woody oil plant with high commercial and ornamental value. The exocarp of the oil palm fruit is rich in anthocyanosides and proanthocyanidins, which not only give it a bright colour, but also mark the maturity of the fruit. The study of the dynamic change pattern of anthocyanoside content and important anthocyanoside metabolism-related regulatory genes during oil palm ripening is conducive to the improvement of the ornamental value of oil palm and the determination of the optimal harvesting period of the fruits.

METHODS

We analyzed the virescens oil palm (AS) and nigrescens oil palm (AT) at 95 days (AS1, AT1), 125 days (AS2, AT2) and 185 days (AS3, AT3) after pollination were used as experimental materials for determining the changes in the total amount of anthocyanins as well as their metabolomics and transcriptomics studies by using the LC-MS/MS technique and RNA-Seq technique.

RESULT

The results showed that the total anthocyanin content decreased significantly from AS1 (119 µg/g) to AS3 (23 µg/g), and from AT1 (1302 µg/g) to AT3 (170 µg/g), indicating a clear decreasing trend during fruit development. Among them, the higher flavonoids in AS and AT included anthocyanins such as peonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H35), pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H21), and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (H7), as well as condensed tannins such as procyanidin B2 (H47), procyanidin C1 (H49), and procyanidin B3 (H48). Notably, nine genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway exhibited up-regulated expression during the pre-development stage of oil palm fruits, particularly during the AS1 and AT1 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036364); Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H; LOC105054663); Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR; LOC105040724, LOC105048473); Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS; LOC105035842), UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105039612); Flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H; LOC105036086, LOC105044124, LOC105045493). In contrast, five genes demonstrated up-regulated expression as the fruits developed, specifically during the AS3 and AT3 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036921, LOC105035716); Chalcone isomerase (CHI; LOC105045978); UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105046326); Flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H; LOC105036086).

CONCLUSION

Most of differentially expressed genes exhibited up-regulation during the early stages of fruit development, which may contribute to the elevated anthocyanin content observed in oil palm fruits of both types during the pre-developmental period. Furthermore, the expression levels of most genes were found to be higher in the AT fruit type compared to the AS fruit type, suggesting that the differential expression of these genes may be a key factor underlying the differences in anthocyanoside production in the exocarp of oil palm fruits from these two fruit types. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the identification and characterization of genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in oil palm fruits, as well as the development of novel variations using molecular biology approaches.

Refinement and Enhancement of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Transformation for Functional Gene Examination in Mulberry (Morus L.)

Background: Mulberry (Morus L.), a vital perennial woody plant with significant economic importance, is utilized for silkworm rearing, human consumption and medicinal use. The availability of mulberry's whole-genome sequencing data has underscored the demand for an effective, user-friendly, and high-throughput protocol to facilitate the elucidation of gene functions. Methods and Results: In this investigation, we established a transient transformation approach using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated sonication followed by vacuum infiltration in mulberry tissue culture seedlings. Simultaneously, we optimized the transformation conditions, including mulberry genotypes, A. tumefaciens strain, acetosyringone concentration, bacterial density, sonication time, and days after agroinfiltration. These optimizations aimed to achieve heightened transformation efficiency, employing GFP as a reporter gene to monitor transformation events. The optimized method included the use of an infiltration medium (10 mM MgCl2, 10 mM MES (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid sodium salt), 150 μM acetosyringone, and OD600 0.5 of A. tumefaciens LBA4404) supplemented with the surfactant 0.02% Silwet L-77, with 20 s sonication followed by 20 min vacuum infiltration (0.07 MPa). Among the four mulberry genotypes, 'Taiguo' was the most responsive genotype and produced the highest levels of GFP expression at 7 d after infiltration. Furthermore, the optimized transient transformation approach has been proven to be successfully applicable for transiently overexpressing MaANS and MaDFR in mulberry fruits of 'Taiguo', in vitro, which distinctly enhanced fruit coloring and significantly increased anthocyanin accumulation, respectively. Conclusions: In summary, we devised a dependable, stable and highly efficient transient transformation approach suitable for rapid gene function examination in mulberry leaves and fruits, in vitro.

Effects of L-Proline on the Stability of Mulberry Anthocyanins and the Mechanism of Interaction between L-Proline and Cyanidin-3-O-Glycoside

The protective effects of L-aspartic acid, L-valine, and L-proline on the stability of mulberry anthocyanins were investigated. Results showed that L-aspartic acid, L-valine, and L-proline significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the stability of mulberry anthocyanins under constant light or ascorbic acid (AA). L-Proline had the best protective effect against anthocyanin degradation. The interaction between L-proline and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, which improved the stability of C3G, was confirmed using FT-IR, 1H NMR, XRD, and molecular docking analyses, as well as molecular dynamics modes. In vitro digestion experiments yielded that both 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacities of the C3G/Pro group were increased in the intestinal fluid (p < 0.05). The above findings suggest that L-proline effectively slowed down the degradation of mulberry anthocyanins, and that it could be used as an auxiliary pigment and food additive to extend the optimal flavor period of products containing mulberry anthocyanins, and can improve the bioavailability of mulberry anthocyanins.

Effects of in vitro simulated digestion and fecal fermentation on the structure and regulating the glucose and lipid activity of a polysaccharide from Mori Folium

Mori folium, as a homologous drug-food, has hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering activity. Polysaccharides are the main bioactive ingredient of the Mori folium that exhibit diverse biological activities. In this study, a homogeneous polysaccharide (MP4) was purified and characterized from Mori folium. The changes of MP4 affected by saliva, simulated gastrointestinal juice, and human fecal fermentation, including physicochemical property or its bioactivity, were systematically investigated. Meanwhile, the influence of fermentation on the bioactivity were evaluated. The results showed that the backbone of MP4 is mainly composed of →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→ residues. The molecular weight, the levels of reducing sugar content and free monosaccharides of MP4 exhibited no significant differences indicating that gastrointestinal digestion has a minimal effect on the physicochemical characteristics of MP4. However, during in vitro gut microbiota fermentation, MP4 are significantly degraded and utilized by gut microbiota, showing increased the production of short-chain fatty acids, notably acetic acid and propionic acid. The relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were significantly increased, whereas the levels of pathogenic bacteria such as Fusobacteria and Megamonas were significantly decreased, which changed the composition of the gut microbiota. The Firmicutes/Bacteroides ratio was also decreased significantly. Interestingly, after in vitro fermentation, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was increased, the lipase inhibitory activity and cholesterol adsorption activity was decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of some bacteria was significantly correlated with the bioactivities. These results provide a basis for the development of Mori folium polysaccharides as functional probiotic products.

Phytochemical and Flavor Characteristics of Mulberry Juice Fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BXM2

Fermentation of mulberry juice not only improves its shelf life, but also effectively enhances their flavor and nutritional quality. This study elucidated the phytochemical and flavor characteristics of mulberry juice fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BXM2, originally isolated from naturally fermented fruit beverage, through widely targeted metabolomics. The fermentation produced the unique flavor of fermented juice and decreased the pH from 4.15 to 3.19. The metabolomic analysis detected 907 non-volatile metabolites, from which 359 significantly different non-volatile metabolites (up 238, down 121) were screened out. Among 731 identified volatile metabolites, 26 flavor substances were the major contributors to the flavor differences between fermented and unfermented mulberry juices. It is hypothesized that lipid metabolism and amino acid catabolism are crucial pathways for the flavor enhancement of mulberry juice fermented with L. plantarum BXM2. Meanwhile, significant increases of the contents of a variety of bioactive substances, such as indole-3-lactic acid, octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid, di-/tri-peptides, etc., conferred additional health potential to BXM2-fermented mulberry juice.

Transcriptomic profiling and discovery of key transcription factors involved in adventitious roots formation from root cuttings of mulberry

ARs plays a crucial role in plant morphogenesis and development. The limited and inefficient rooting of scions poses a significant challenge to the efficiency and quality of clonal propagation of forest trees in silvicultural practices. Building on previous research conducted by our team, we found that applying IBA at a concentration of 1000 mg/L significantly enhanced mulberry rooting. This study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect by analyzing RNA sequencing data from mulberry phloem before and after treatment with IBA over time intervals of 10, 20, 30, and 40 days. We identified 5226 DEGs, which were then classified into GO terms and KEGG pathways, showing significant enrichment in hormone signaling processes. Using WGCNA, we identified eight co-expression modules, two of which were significantly correlated with the IBA treatment. Additionally, 18 transcription factors that potentially facilitate ARs formation in mulberry were identified, and an exploratory analysis on the cis-regulatory elements associated with these transcription factors was conducted. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of ARs in mulberry and offer theoretical support for the discovery and utilization of exceptional genetic resources within the species.

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.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of flavonoids biosynthesis mechanisms in mulberry fruit (Hongguo 2) under exogenous hormone treatments

The mulberry fruit is prized for its superior nutrition value and abundant color due to its high flavone content. To enhance comprehension of flavone biogenesis induced by external hormones, we sprayed exogenous ethylene (ETH), indoleacetic acid (IAA) and spermine (SPM) on mulberry fruit (Hongguo 2) during its color-changed period. The levels of anthocyanin, titratable acid, soluble sugar and endogenous hormones were determined after hormone treatment, integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis were performed for mechanism exploration. Our results indicated that exogenous ETH, SPM, and IAA play important roles in mulberry ripening, including acid reduction, sugar increase and flavonoid synthesis.

A dual recognition-based strategy employing Ni-modified metal-organic framework for in situ screening of SIRT1 inhibitors from Chinese herbs

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase, plays a crucial role in regulating molecular signaling pathways. Recently, inhibition of SIRT1 rather than its activation shows the therapeutic potential for central nervous system disorder, however, the discovered SIRT1 inhibitors remains limited. In this work, a dual recognition-based strategy was developed to screen SIRT1 inhibitors from natural resources in situ. This approach utilized a Ni-modified metal-organic framework (Ni@Tyr@UiO-66-NH2) along with cell lysate containing an engineered His-tagged SIRT1 protein, eliminating the need for purified proteins, pure compounds, and protein immobilization. The high-performance Ni@Tyr@UiO-66-NH2 was synthesized by modifying the surface of UiO-66-NH2 with Ni2+ ions to specifically capture His-tagged SIRT1 while persevering its enzyme activity. By employing dual recognition, in which Ni@Tyr@UiO-66-NH2 recognized SIRT1 and SIRT1 recognized its ligands, the process of identifying SIRT1 inhibitors from complex matrix was vastly streamlined. The developed method allowed the efficient discovery of 16 natural SIRT1 inhibitors from Chinese herbs. Among them, 6 compounds were fully characterized, and suffruticosol A was found to have an excellent IC50 value of 0.95 ± 0.12 μM. Overall, an innovative dual recognition-based strategy was proposed to efficiently identify SIRT1 inhibitors in this study, offering scientific clues for the development of drugs targeting CNS disorders.

Potential Involvement of MnCYP710A11 in Botrytis cinerea Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana and Morus notabilis

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a crucial oxidoreductase enzyme that plays a significant role in plant defense mechanisms. In this study, a specific cytochrome P450 gene (MnCYP710A11) was discovered in mulberry (Morus notabilis). Bioinformatic analysis and expression pattern analysis were conducted to elucidate the involvement of MnCYP710A11 in combating Botrytis cinerea infection. After the infection of B. cinerea, there was a notable increase in the expression of MnCYP710A11. MnCYP710A11 is overexpressed in Arabidopsis and mulberry and strongly reacts to B. cinerea. The overexpression of the MnCYP710A11 gene in Arabidopsis and mulberry led to a substantial enhancement in resistance against B. cinerea, elevated catalase (CAT) activity, increased proline content, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. At the same time, H2O2 and O2- levels in MnCYP710A11 transgenic Arabidopsis were decreased, which reduced the damage of ROS accumulation to plants. Furthermore, our research indicates the potential involvement of MnCYP710A11 in B. cinerea resistance through the modulation of other resistance-related genes. These findings establish a crucial foundation for gaining deeper insights into the role of cytochrome P450 in mulberry plants.

The Functional Characterization of MaGS2 and Its Role as a Negative Regulator of Ciboria shiraiana

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme involved in nitrogen metabolism. GS can be divided into cytosolic and plastidic subtypes and has been reported to respond to various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little research has been reported on the function of GS in mulberry. In this study, the full length of MaGS2 was cloned, resulting in 1302 bp encoding 433 amino acid residues. MaGS2 carried the typical GS2 motifs and clustered with plastidic-subtype GSs in the phylogenetic analysis. MaGS2 localized in chloroplasts, demonstrating that MaGS2 is a plastidic GS. The expression profile showed that MaGS2 is highly expressed in sclerotiniose pathogen-infected fruit and sclerotiniose-resistant fruit, demonstrating that MaGS2 is associated with the response to sclerotiniose in mulberry. Furthermore, the overexpression of MaGS2 in tobacco decreased the resistance against Ciboria shiraiana, and the knockdown of MaGS2 in mulberry by VIGS increased the resistance against C. shiraiana, demonstrating the role of MaGS2 as a negative regulator of mulberry resistance to C. shiraiana infection.

Haplotype-resolved chromosomal-level genome assembly reveals regulatory variations in mulberry fruit anthocyanin content

Understanding the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying the anthocyanin content (AC) in fruits and vegetables is crucial for advanced biotechnological customization. In this study, we generated high-quality haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for two mulberry cultivars: the high-AC 'Zhongsang5801' (ZS5801) and the low-AC 'Zhenzhubai' (ZZB). Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of genes associated with AC production. Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on 112 mulberry fruits, we identified MaVHAG3, which encodes a vacuolar-type H+-ATPase G3 subunit, as a key gene linked to purple pigmentation. To gain deeper insights into the genetic and molecular processes underlying high AC, we compared the genomes of ZS5801 and ZZB, along with fruit transcriptome data across five developmental stages, and quantified the accumulation of metabolic substances. Compared to ZZB, ZS5801 exhibited significantly more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to anthocyanin metabolism and higher levels of anthocyanins and flavonoids. Comparative analyses revealed expansions and contractions in the flavonol synthase (FLS) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) genes, resulting in altered carbon flow. Co-expression analysis demonstrated that ZS5801 displayed more significant alterations in genes involved in late-stage AC regulation compared to ZZB, particularly during the phase stage. In summary, our findings provide valuable insights into the regulation of mulberry fruit AC, offering genetic resources to enhance cultivars with higher AC traits.

Mulberry leaf and its effects against obesity: A systematic review of phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms and applications

BACKGROUND

Obesity and hyperlipidemia can induce a variety of diseases, and have become major health problems worldwide. How to effectively prevent and control obesity has become one of the hot-spots of contemporary research. Mulberry leaf is the dried leaf of Morus alba L., which is approved by the Ministry of Health as a "homology of medicine and food", rich in diverse active constituents and with a variety of health effects including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia activities.

PURPOSE

The review attempts to summarize and provide the molecular basis, mechanism, safety and products for further exploration and application of mulberry leaf on the treatment on the control of weight gain and obesity.

METHODS

This review is conducted by using ScienceDirect, PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

RESULTS

Based on the research progress of domestic and foreign scholars, the effective phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms and product applications of mulberry leaf in the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases were summarized.

CONCLUSION

Mulberry leaf has excellent medicinal and health care value in obesity treatment. However, its pharmacodynamic substance basis and molecular mechanisms need to be further studied.

Modulatory Effects of the Kuwanon-Rich Fraction from Mulberry Root Bark on the Renin-Angiotensin System

In this study, we investigated the anti-hypertensive properties of mulberry products by modulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Comparative analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fractions, particularly from the Cheongil and Daeshim cultivars, contained the highest levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with concentrations reaching 110 mg gallic acid equivalent (GE)/g and 471 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g of extract, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction showed superior angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, mainly because of the presence of the prenylated flavonoids kuwanon G and H. UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis identified kuwanon G and H as the primary active components, which significantly contributed to the pharmacological efficacy of the extract. In vivo testing of mice fed a high-salt diet showed that the ethyl acetate fraction substantially reduced the heart weight and lowered the serum renin and angiotensinogen levels by 34% and 25%, respectively, highlighting its potential to modulate the RAS. These results suggested that the ethyl acetate fraction of mulberry root bark is a promising candidate for the development of natural ACE inhibitors. This finding has significant implications for the management of hypertension through RAS regulation and the promotion of cardiovascular health in the functional food industry.

Environmentally related microcystin-LR-induced ovarian dysfunction via the CCL2-CCR10 axis in mice ameliorated by dietary mulberry

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a reproductive toxin produced by cyanobacteria in the aquatic environment and can be ingested by humans through drinking water and the food chain, posing a threat to human reproductive health. However, the toxic mechanisms and prospective interventions for MC-LR-induced ovarian dysfunction at environmental doses are unknown. The mulberry fruit is a traditional natural product of plant origin, with various pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, mice were exposed to MC-LR (10, 100 μg/L) in drinking water for 90 days, during which mice were gavage 600 mg/kg/week of mulberry fruit extract (MFE). It was found that MC-LR can accumulate in mouse ovaries, causing sexual hormone disturbance, inflammatory infiltration, and ovarian pathological damage. Results from RNA-seq were shown that CCL2, a chemokine associated with inflammatory response, was significantly increased in mouse ovary after MC-LR exposure. Further investigation revealed that MC-LR exposure aggravates apoptosis of granulosa cells via the CCL2-CCR10 axis-mediated Jak/Stat pathway. Importantly, MFE can significantly ameliorate these ovarian dysfunction phenotypes by inhibiting the activation of the CCL2-CCR10 axis. This study broadened new insights into the ovarian toxicity of MC-LR and clarified the pharmacological effects of mulberry fruit on ovarian function protection.

Potential Role and Mechanism of Mulberry Extract in Immune Modulation: Focus on Chemical Compositions, Mechanistic Insights, and Extraction Techniques

Mulberry is a rapidly growing plant that thrives in diverse climatic, topographical, and soil types, spanning temperature and temperate countries. Mulberry plants are valued as functional foods for their abundant chemical composition, serving as a significant reservoir of bioactive compounds like proteins, polysaccharides, phenolics, and flavonoids. Moreover, these compounds displayed potent antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, and restoring elevated nitric oxide production induced by LPS stimulation through the downregulation of inducible NO synthase expression. Active components like oxyresveratrol found in Morus demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting leukocyte migration through the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Gallic and chlorogenic acids in mulberry leaves (ML) powder-modulated TNF, IL-6, and IRS1 proteins, improving various inflammatory conditions by immune system modulation. As we delve deeper into understanding its anti-inflammatory potential and how it works therapeutically, it is crucial to refine the extraction process to enhance the effectiveness of its bioactive elements. Recent advancements in extraction techniques, such as solid-liquid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, superficial fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasonic-assisted extraction, are being explored. Among the extraction methods tested, including Soxhlet extraction, maceration, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), UAE demonstrated superior efficiency in extracting bioactive compounds from mulberry leaves. Overall, this comprehensive review sheds light on the potential of mulberry as a natural immunomodulatory agent and provides insights into its mechanisms of action for future research and therapeutic applications.

Extraction, purification, structural modification, activities and application of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry

The mulberry plant is a member of the Moraceae family and belongs to the Morus genus. Its entire body is a treasure, with mulberries, mulberry leaves, and mulberry branches all suitable for medicinal use. The main active ingredient in mulberries is mulberry polysaccharide. Studies have shown that polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry exhibit antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-lowering properties. There are more studies on the biological activities, extraction methods, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry. However, the structural characterization of mulberry polysaccharides is mostly confined to the types and proportions of monosaccharides and the molecular weights of polysaccharides, and there are fewer systematic studies on polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry. In order to better understand the bioactive structure of mulberry polysaccharides, this article discusses the recent research progress in the extraction, separation, purification, bioactivity, structural modification, and application of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry (mulberry leaves, mulberry fruits, and mulberry branches). It also delves into the pharmacological mechanisms of action of mulberry polysaccharides to provide a theoretical basis for further research on mulberry polysaccharides with a view to their deeper application in the fields of feed and nutraceuticals.

Bioassay-guided discovery and identification of new potent α-glucosidase inhibitors from Morus alba L. and the interaction mechanism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Morus alba L. (mulberry) is a well-known medicinal species that has been used by herbalist doctors for the treatment of diabetes for a long history, and modern ethnopharmacological studies have demonstrated the ameliorating effects of different mulberry extracts toward diabetes-related symptoms and identified a number of α-glucosidase inhibitors as hypoglycemic ingredients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aims to explore new potent α-glucosidase inhibitors from the root bark of M. alba (known as Sang-Bai-Pi in traditional medicine) based on an in vivo antidiabetic evaluation of its extract fractions and further characterize the preliminary mechanism of the new active constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

α-Glucosidase inhibitory assay and diabetic mice model were used to locate and evaluate the active fractions from the extract. Diverse separation techniques (e.g. Sephadex LH-20 column chromatograph (CC) and HPLC) and spectroscopic methods (e.g. MS, NMR and ECD) were employed to isolate and structurally characterize the obtained constituents, respectively. Fluorescence quenching, kinetics and molecular docking experiments were conducted to investigate the enzyme inhibitory mechanism of the active compounds.

RESULTS

The 80% ethanol eluate from the macroporous resin CC exerted good antidiabetic effects in the tested mice. Fifty-two flavonoids including 22 new ones were then separated and identified, and most of them showed strong inhibition against α-glucosidase with their structure-activity relationship being also discussed. The four new most active ingredients were further characterized to be mixed type of α-glucosidase inhibitors, and their binding modes with the enzyme were also explored.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current work has demonstrated that the root bark of M. alba is an extremely rich source of flavonoids as potent α-glucosidase inhibitors and potential antidiabetic agents, which makes it a promising candidate species to develop new natural remedies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Hypoglycemic effects and associated mechanisms of resveratrol and related stilbenes in diet

Hyperglycemia has become a global health problem due to changes in diet and lifestyle. Most importantly, persistent hyperglycemia can eventually develop into type II diabetes. While the usage of current drugs is limited by their side effects, stilbenes derived from fruits and herbal/dietary plants are considered as important phytochemicals with potential hypoglycemic properties. Herein, the most common stilbenoids in consumed foods, i.e. resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol, oxyresveratrol, and 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-glucopyranoside (THSG), are reviewed in this paper. These stilbenes are found to regulate glucose homeostasis via (a) modulation of feeding behaviour and nutrition absorption; (b) restoration of insulin signalling by enhancing insulin production/insulin sensitivity; (c) improvement of gut permeability, gut microbial profile and resulting metabolomes; and (d) amelioration of circadian rhythm disruption. In this review, we have summarized the underlying mechanisms for the hypoglycemic effects of the five most common dietary stilbenoids listed above, providing a comprehensive framework for future study and applications.

Mno-miR164a and MnNAC100 regulate the resistance of mulberry to Botrytis cinerea

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the defense response of a variety of plant species against a variety of pathogenic fungi, the involvement of miRNAs in mulberry's defense against Botrytis cinerea has not yet been documented. In this study, we identified responsive B. cinerea miRNA mno-miR164a in mulberry trees. After infection with B. cinerea, the expression of mno-miR164a was reduced, which was fully correlated with the upregulation of its target gene, MnNAC100, responsible for encoding a transcription factor. By using transient infiltration/VIGS mulberry that overexpressed mno-miR164a or knocked-down MnNAC100, our study revealed a substantial enhancement in mulberry's resistance to B. cinerea when mno-miR164a was overexpressed or MnNAC100 expression was suppressed. This enhancement was accompanied by increased catalase (CAT) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In addition, mno-miR164a-mediated inhibition of MnNAC100 enhanced the expression of a cluster of defense-related genes in transgenic plants upon exposure to B. cinerea. Meanwhile, MnNAC100 acts as a transcriptional repressor, directly suppressing the expression of MnPDF1.2. Our study indicated that the mno-miR164a-MnNAC100 regulatory module manipulates the defense response of mulberry to B. cinerea infection. This discovery has great potential in breeding of resistant varieties and disease control.

Grafting seedling rootstock strengthens tolerance to drought stress in polyploid mulberry (Morus alba L.)

The economically adaptable mulberry (Morus alba L.) has a long history of grafting in China, yet the physiological mechanisms and advantages in drought tolerance remain unexplored. In our study, we investigated the responses of self-rooted 2X (diploid), 3X (triploid), and 4X (tetraploid) plants, as well as polyploid plants grafted onto diploid seedling rootstocks (2X/2X, 3X/2X, and 4X/2X) under drought stress. We found that self-rooted diploid plants exhibited the most severe phenotypic damage, lowest water retention, photosynthetic capacity, and the least effective osmotic stress adjustment compared to tetraploid and triploid plants. However, grafted diploid and triploid plants showed effective mitigation of drought-induced damage, with higher relative water content and improved soil water retention. Grafted plants also improved the photosystem response to drought stress through elevated photosynthetic potential, closed stomatal aperture, and faster recovery of chlorophyll biosynthesis in the leaves. Additionally, grafted plants altered osmotic protective compound levels, including starch, soluble sugar, and proline content, thereby enhancing drought resistance. Absolute quantification PCR indicated that the expression levels of proline synthesis-related genes in grafted plants were not influenced after drought stress, whereas they were significantly increased in self-rooted plants. Consequently, our findings support that self-rooted triploid and tetraploid mulberries exhibited superior drought resistance compared to diploid plants. Moreover, grafting onto seedling rootstocks enhanced tolerance against drought stress in diploid and triploid mulberry, but not in tetraploid. Our study provides valuable insights for a comprehensive analysis of physiological effects in response to drought stress between stem-roots and seedling rootstocks.

Melatonin as a master regulatory hormone for genetic responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in model plant Arabidopsis thaliana: a comprehensive review

Melatonin is a naturally occurring biologically active amine produced by plants, animals and microbes. This review explores the biosynthesis of melatonin in plants, with a particular focus on its diverse roles in Arabidopsis thaliana , a model species. Melatonin affects abiotic and biotic stress resistance in A. thaliana . Exogenous and endogenous melatonin is addressed in association with various conditions, including cold stress, high light stress, intense heat and infection with Botrytis cinerea or Pseudomonas , as well as in seed germination and lateral root formation. Furthermore, melatonin confers stress resistance in Arabidopsis by initiating the antioxidant system, remedying photosynthesis suppression, regulating transcription factors involved with stress resistance (CBF, DREB, ZAT, CAMTA, WRKY33, MYC2, TGA) and other stress-related hormones (abscisic acid, auxin, ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid). This article additionally addresses other precursors, metabolic components, expression of genes (COR , CBF , SNAT , ASMT , PIN , PR1 , PDF1.2 and HSFA ) and proteins (JAZ, NPR1) associated with melatonin and reducing both biological and environmental stressors. Furthermore, the future perspective of melatonin rich agri-crops is explored to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, maximise crop productivity and enhance nutritional worth, which may help improve food security.

Production of mulberry wine using selenium-enriched Saccharomyces cerevisiae: implications from sensory analysis, phytochemical and antioxidant activities

The present study aims to evaluate the quality of chemical, sensory properties and antioxidant potential of mulberry wine using selenium-enriched yeasts employing eight different methods (MW1-MW8). The selenium-enriched yeast significantly (p < 0.05) increased phytochemical profiles, flavor, quality and antioxidant capacity. The most effective method for raising the selenium level of mulberry wine was using L-seMC (MW5). Mulberry wine color was attributed to the anthocyanins and phytochemical composition with selenium content. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity varied with change in treatment methods suggesting their impact on antioxidant activity. Total selenium content on L-SeMC supplementation proved a significant correlation between selenium content with total anthocyanin content, total polyphenol content and flavonoid content. Sensory analysis by electronic nose exhibited MW2 with high response value in the W2S sensor showing high alcohol concentration. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 57 volatile aromatic compounds comprehended by esters and alcohol (isoamyl alcohol, 2-methylbutanol, 2,3-butanediol, and phenethyl alcohol). Principal component analysis affirms the response values for four categorical score values with reliability and consistency for all the parameters, significantly. Thus, the workflow demonstrates a simpler, cost-effective traditional methodology for rationalized outcomes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05847-4.

In silico analysis to identify potential antitubercular molecules in Morus alba through virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations

A major obstacle in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is to combat the emerging resistant strains of its causing agent i.e. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb). The emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant -TB strains raise a requirement of new potential anti-tubercular compounds. In this direction, different plant parts of Morus alba were tested against MTb and found to be active with a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging between 125 µg/ml to 31.5 µg/ml. Further to identify the phytochompounds having anti-mycobacterium activity, phytocompounds of the plant were docked against the five MTb proteins (PDB ID: 3HEM, 4OTK, 2QO0, 2AQ1 and 6MNA). Among twenty-two tested phytocompounds, four phytocompounds with effective binding energy (kcal/mol): Petunidin-3-rutinoside (3HEM: -8.2, 4OTK: -6.9, 2QO0: -9.0, 2AQ1: -8.3 and 6MNA:-7.8), Quercetin-3'-glucoside (3HEM:-6.7, 4OTK:-7.6, 2QO0:-7.6, 2AQ1:7.6 and 6MNA:-6.4), Rutin (3HEM:-7.8, 4OTK:-7.5, 2QO0:-9.1, 2AQ1:9.3 and 6MNA:-6.9) and Isoquercitrin (3HEM:-7.3, 4OTK:-6.6, 2QO0:-7.7, 2AQ1:8.3 and 6MNA:-6.6) shows promising activity against all the five target proteins. Further molecular dynamics studies of Petunidin-3-rutinoside with three target proteins 3HEM, 2AQ1 and 2QO0 resulted with low values of average RMSD (3.723 Å, 3.261 Å, and 2.497 Å, respectively) show that the complexes have better conformational stability. The wet lab validation of the current study will pave the new dimensions for the cure of TB patients.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The Effect of Co-Culture with Different Pichia kluyveri and Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Volatile Compound and Characteristic Fingerprints of Mulberry Wine

In this study, changes in volatile compounds co-fermented by different Pichia kluyveri with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were analyzed using GC-IMS and compared with S. cerevisiae fermentation, to investigate the production of aroma in mulberry wine during the fermentation process. A total of 61 compounds were accurately identified, including 21 esters, 10 alcohols, 8 aldehydes, 6 ketones, and 19 other volatiles. Compared with the single strain fermentation (S. cerevisiae), the content of 2-methylpropyl acetate, allyl Isothiocyanate, ethyl crotonate, isobutyl propanoate, and butyl 2-methylbutanoate, co-fermentation groups (S. cerevisiae with different P. kluyveri) showed a significant decrease. Alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and organic acid were lower in both the F(S-P1) and F(S-P2) groups than in the F(S) group throughout fermentation. The 2-methylpentanoic acid only was contained in the F(S) group. The co-fermentation with different P. kluyveri could also be well distinguished. The content of Benzaldehyde and 4-methylphenol in the F(S-P1) group was significantly lower than that in the F(S-P2) group. The PCA results revealed effective differentiation of mulberry wine fermented by different fermentation strains from GC-IMS. The result showed that P. kluyveri could establish a new flavor system for mulberry wine, which plays a crucial role in enhancing the flavor of fruit wine.

Morus Alba Fruit Extract and its Fractions Ameliorate Streptozotocin Induced Cognitive Deficit in Mice via Modulating Oxidative and Cholinergic Systems

Increased oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity are key pathological characters contributing to the memory disorders. Thus, drugs targeting both oxidative stress and AChE are being explored for the management of cognitive dysfunction. Morus alba fruits (commonly consumed for its high nutritious value) are known to have antioxidant and AChE inhibitory effects. However, the role of Morus alba fruits in the management of memory disorders has not reported yet. This investigation was conducted to assess the antioxidant and AChE inhibitory potential of Morus alba fruit extracts in-vitro and to identify the components responsible for such effects. Further, the obtained bioactive component was studied for possible memory improvement effects against streptozotocin (STZ) induced dementia. To isolate the bioactive component in-vitro DPPH and AChE assays guided fractionation was performed. Memory functions in mice were determined using Morris Water Maze test while brain biochemical parameters were measured to understand the mechanism of action. In-vitro assays revealed strong AChE and DPPH inhibitory potential of methanol extract (ME), therefore, it was further fractionated. Among various fractions obtained, ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) was found to possess marked AChE and DPPH inhibitory activities. On subsequent fractionation of EAF, bioactivity of obtained sub-fractions was found to be inferior to EAF. Further, both ME and EAF improved STZ (intracerebroventricular) induced cognitive dysfunction in animals by restoring endogenous antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione) and reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive species and nitric oxide levels along with brain AChE and myeloperoxidase activity. TLC densitometric studies showed appreciable levels of phenolic acids and quercetin in both EAF and ME. It can be concluded that Morus alba fruit extract has the ability to modulate cholinergic and oxidative system due to presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and hence, could aid in the management of memory disorders.

Phytochemicals as treatment for allergic asthma: Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action

BACKGROUND

Allergic asthma is an inflammatory disease caused by the immune system's reaction to allergens, inflammation and narrowing of the airways, and the production of more than normal mucus. One of the main reasons is an increased production of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs that leads to the appearance of symptoms of asthma, including inflammation and shortness of breath. On the other hand, it has been proven that phytochemicals with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can be useful in improving allergic asthma.

PURPOSE

Common chemical treatments for allergic asthma include corticosteroids, which have many side effects and temporarily relieve symptoms but are not a cure. Therefore, taking the help of natural compounds to improve the quality of life of asthmatic patients can be a valuable issue that has been evaluated in the present review.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In this study, three databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane) with the keywords: allergic asthma, phytochemical, plant, and herb were evaluated. The primary result was 5307 articles. Non-English, repetitive, and review articles were deleted from the study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Finally, after carefully reading the articles, 102 were included in the study (2006-2022). The results of this review state that phytochemicals suppress the inflammatory pathways via inhibition of inflammatory cytokines production/secretion, genes, and proteins involved in the inflammation process, reducing oxidative stress indicators and symptoms of allergic asthma, such as cough and mucus production in the lungs.

CONCLUSION

With their antioxidant effects, this study concluded that phytochemicals suppress cytokines and other inflammatory indicators and thus can be considered an adjunctive treatment for improving allergic asthma.

Characterization, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties of Mulberry Lattices

In order to find the most advantageous bioactive compounds from mulberry latex for drug development in the near future, this study was conducted to characterize and evaluate antioxidant and antimicrobial properties from four different mulberry lattices (BR-2, S-1, AR-14, and S-146). The characterization of the lattices was performed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Further, screenings of the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of selected lattices were performed in vitro using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and agar well diffusion methods, respectively. Interestingly, the outcome of the current study revealed that tested mulberry lattices contain a considerable amount of bioactive phytoconstituents, particularly antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds, as revealed by chromatographic analysis. BR-2 latex was found to have significant antioxidant activity (75%) followed by S-146 (64.6%) and AR-14 (52.9%). The maximum antimicrobial activity was found in BR-2 latex compared to other tested latex varieties. The results of this investigation showed that mulberry latex from the BR-2 type may successfully control both bacterial and fungal infections, with the added benefit of having enhanced antioxidant capabilities.

The Darker the Better: Identification of Chemotype Profile in Soroses of Local and Introduced Mulberry Varieties with Respect to the Colour Type

Mulberries are the "essence of the past", the so-called Proust effect, for the inhabitants of the sericultural regions who enthusiastically remember feeding silkworms with mulberry leaves and picking the different coloured fruits that were their favourite sweets in childhood. To determine the chemistry behind the colour and taste of mulberry soroses, the main metabolites of the local and introduced varieties were studied. The soroses were classified into five different colour types and the size parameters were determined. The main sugars identified were glucose and fructose, while the predominant organic acids were citric and malic acids, which were highest in the darker varieties, and fumaric and tartaric acids, which were highest in the lighter varieties. A total of 42 phenolic compounds were identified. The predominant phenolic acid was chlorogenic acid, followed by other caffeoylquinic acids and coumaroylquinic acids. The predominant anthocyanins were cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. According to PCA analysis, the colour types showed a clear chemotype character. The sweet taste of the yellowish-white soroses was defined by 49% fructose, followed by 45% glucose and 6% organic acids. The sour character of the black genotypes was characterised by a lower sugar and higher (11%) organic acid content. The colour- and species-dependent effect was observed in the proportion of caffeoylquinic acids and quercetin glycosides, which decreased with increasing colour intensity from 60% of the total to 7%, and from 17% to 1%, respectively. An upward trend was observed for flavanols (5% to 29%) and anthocyanins, which accounted for 62% of the total phenolics in black varieties. This article gives an insight into the metabolite composition of mulberry soroses as the sweets of choice between light and sweet and dark and sour.

Hypoglycemic effect of Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented mulberry pomace extract in vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mulberry pomace is rich in phytochemicals, but there are few studies on its utilization as a by-product. Natural foods containing phytochemicals can alleviate the toxic effects of excessive glucose intake. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented mulberry pomace extract (FMPE) under hyperglycemic conditions. The phenolic compounds and α-glucosidase inhibition of FMPE were determined using UPLC-MS and chemical models. Furthermore, Caenorhabditis elegans was a model system to study the hypoglycemic effects. The results showed that the polyphenolics and α-glucosidase inhibition were improved during fermentation. Three phenolic components (cyanidin, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde, and taxifolin) were important variables for α-glucosidase inhibition. FMPE and the three key compound treatments reduced the glucose content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in Caenorhabditis elegans. The protective mechanism occurred by activating DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1/Nrf2. This study suggests that Lactobacillus plantarum-fermentation was a potential way to utilize mulberry pomace polyphenols as hypoglycemic food ingredients.

Assessment of the Fruit Chemical Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Different Mulberry Cultivars (Morus spp.) in Semi-Arid, Sandy Regions of China

As a traditional cash crop with ecological and nutritional values, mulberry is gradually expanding its consumption worldwide due to its great regional adaptability and superior health functions. The widespread interest in nutrients has led to a growing need to explore in depth the health benefits of mulberries. Many studies are actively being conducted to investigate the adaptability of the diversity of mulberries in different applications. This study systematically investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of four mulberry genotypes cultivated in China's semi-arid sandy regions to better understand the composition and health-promoting potential of this super crop. Chemical composition identification was identified via HPLC and antioxidant activity was further determined via DPPH and FRAP. The moisture, crude protein, ash, soluble solids, phenolics, anthocyanins, and flavonoids contents of mulberry were comparatively analyzed. The study revealed that the four mulberry genotypes showed significant differences in quality and content of the analyzed characteristics. The greatest antioxidant activity was found in Shensang 1, which had the most soluble solids (17%) and the highest amounts of free sugar (fructose: 5.14% and glucose: 5.46%). Ji'an had the most minerals (K: 2.35 mg/g, Ca: 2.27 mg/g, and Fe: 467.32 mg/kg) and it also contained chlorogenic acid, which has the potential to be turned into a natural hypoglycemic agent. PCA and Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the antioxidant activity was closely related to the chemical contents of total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and soluble sugars. If the antioxidant activity and nutrient content of the developed plants are considered, Shen Sang 1 is the most favorable variety. This finding can be used to support the widespread cultivation of mulberries to prevent desertification as well as to promote the development of the mulberry industry.

Explainable deep learning model for automatic mulberry leaf disease classification

Mulberry leaves feed Bombyx mori silkworms to generate silk thread. Diseases that affect mulberry leaves have reduced crop and silk yields in sericulture, which produces 90% of the world's raw silk. Manual leaf disease identification is tedious and error-prone. Computer vision can categorize leaf diseases early and overcome the challenges of manual identification. No mulberry leaf deep learning (DL) models have been reported. Therefore, in this study, two types of leaf diseases: leaf rust and leaf spot, with disease-free leaves, were collected from two regions of Bangladesh. Sericulture experts annotated the leaf images. The images were pre-processed, and 6,000 synthetic images were generated using typical image augmentation methods from the original 764 training images. Additional 218 and 109 images were employed for testing and validation respectively. In addition, a unique lightweight parallel depth-wise separable CNN model, PDS-CNN was developed by applying depth-wise separable convolutional layers to reduce parameters, layers, and size while boosting classification performance. Finally, the explainable capability of PDS-CNN is obtained through the use of SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) evaluated by a sericulture specialist. The proposed PDS-CNN outperforms well-known deep transfer learning models, achieving an optimistic accuracy of 95.05 ± 2.86% for three-class classifications and 96.06 ± 3.01% for binary classifications with only 0.53 million parameters, 8 layers, and a size of 6.3 megabytes. Furthermore, when compared with other well-known transfer models, the proposed model identified mulberry leaf diseases with higher accuracy, fewer factors, fewer layers, and lower overall size. The visually expressive SHAP explanation images validate the models' findings aligning with the predictions made the sericulture specialist. Based on these findings, it is possible to conclude that the explainable AI (XAI)-based PDS-CNN can provide sericulture specialists with an effective tool for accurately categorizing mulberry leaves.

An Exploration of Dynamic Changes in the Mulberry Growth Process Based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and HS-GC-IMS

This work was designed to investigate the dynamic changes process of non-volatile organic compounds (n-VOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in mulberries during different growth periods using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, and HS-GC-IMS. A total of 166 compounds were identified, including 68 n-VOCs and 98 VOCs. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA), random forest analysis (RFA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze differences in mulberries at different ripening stages. A total of 74 compounds appeared or disappeared at different ripening periods and 24 compounds were presented throughout the growth process. Quantitative analysis and antioxidant experiments revealed that as the mulberries continued to mature, flavonoids and phenolic acids continued to increase, and the best antioxidant activity occurred from stage IV. Conclusively, an effective strategy was established for analyzing the composition change process during different growth periods, which could assist in achieving dynamic change process analysis and quality control.

MaABI5 and MaABF1 transcription factors regulate the expression of MaJOINTLESS during fruit abscission in mulberry (Morus alba L.)

Mulberry holds significant economic value. However, during the ripening stage of its fruit, the phenomenon of abscission, resulting in heavy fruit drop, can severely impact the yield. The formation of off-zone structures is a critical factor in the fruit abscission process, and this process is regulated by multiple transcription factors. One such key gene that plays a significant role in the development of the off-zone in the model plant tomato is JOINTLESS, which promotes the expression of abscission-related genes and regulates the differentiation of abscission zone tissue cells. However, there is a lack of information about fruit abscission mechanism in mulberry. Here, we analyzed the MaJOINTLESS promoter and identified the upstream regulators MaABF1 and MaABI5. These two regulators showed binding with MaJOINTLESS promoter MaABF1 (the ABA Binding Factor/ABA-Responsive Element Binding Proteins) activated the expression of MaJOINTLESS, while MaABI5 (ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 5) inhibited the expression of MaJOINTLESS. Finally, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by transcriptome sequencing to investigate the expression and synergistic relationship of endogenous genes in mulberry during abscission. GO classification and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that most of the DEGs were concentrated in MAPK signaling pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, phytohormone signaling, amino acid biosynthesis, and glycolysis. These results provide a theoretical basis for subsequent in-depth study of physiological fruit abscission in mulberry.

Cultivable Endophyte Resources in Medicinal Plants and Effects on Hosts

With the increasing demand for medicinal plants and the increasing shortage of resources, improving the quality and yield of medicinal plants and making more effective use of medicinal plants has become an urgent problem to be solved. During the growth of medicinal plants, various adversities can lead to nutrient loss and yield decline. Using traditional chemical pesticides to control the stress resistance of plants will cause serious pollution to the environment and even endanger human health. Therefore, it is necessary to find suitable pesticide substitutes from natural ingredients. As an important part of the microecology of medicinal plants, endophytes can promote the growth of medicinal plants, improve the stress tolerance of hosts, and promote the accumulation of active components of hosts. Endophytes have a more positive and direct impact on the host and can metabolize rich medicinal ingredients, so researchers pay attention to them. This paper reviews the research in the past five years, aiming to provide ideas for improving the quality of medicinal plants, developing more microbial resources, exploring more medicinal natural products, and providing help for the development of research on medicinal plants and endophytes.

Mulberry fruit repairs alcoholic liver injury by modulating lipid metabolism and the expression of miR-155 and PPARα in rats

As alcohol consumption increases, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has become more popular and is threating our human life. In this study, we found mulberry fruit extract (MFE) repaired alcohol-caused liver diseases by regulating hepatic lipid biosynthesis pathway and oxidative singling in alcoholically liver injured (ALI) rats. MFE administration inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation and improved liver steatosis in ALI rats. MFE also enhanced the antioxidant capacity and alleviated the inflammatory response by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and decreasing the contents of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Additionally, MFE regulated the expression of miRNA-155 and lipid metabolism-related PPARα protein in rats. Both miR-155 and PPARα play important roles in liver function. The results indicate that MFE has hepatoprotective effects against ALI in rats.

Sanggenon C inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by regulating the MIB1/DAPK1 axis in glioblastoma

Sanggenon C (SC), a herbal flavonoid extracted from Cortex Mori, has been mentioned to possess more than one treasured organic properties. However, the molecular mechanism of its anti-tumor impact in glioblastoma (GBM) remains unclear. In this study, we reported that SC displayed a GBM-suppressing impact in vitro and in vivo with no apparent organ toxicity. SC dramatically suppressed cell proliferation-induced cell apoptosis in GBM cells. Mechanistically, we unveiled that SC modulated the protein expression of death associated protain kinase 1 (DAPK1) by controlling the ubiquitination and degradation of DAPK1. Quantitative proteomic and Western blot analyses showed that SC improved DAPK1 protein degradation via decreasing the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligase Mindbomb 1 (MIB1). More importantly, the effects of SC on cell proliferation and apoptosis of GBM cells have been in part reversed through DAPK1 downregulation or MIB1 overexpression, respectively. These results indicated that SC might suppress cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis by decreasing MIB1-mediated DAPK1 degradation. Furthermore, we found that SC acted synergistically with temozolomide (TMZ), an anti-cancer drug used in GBM, resulting in elevated chemotherapeutic sensitivity of GBM to TMZ. Collectively, our data suggest that SC might be a promising anti-cancer agent for GBM therapy.

Complete Genome Sequence of Pantoea ananatis Strain LCFJ-001 Isolated from Bacterial Wilt Mulberry

A Pantoea ananatis strain, named LCFJ-001 (GDMCC: 1.6101), was isolated for the first time from bacterial wilt-diseased roots of mulberry (Morus atropurpurea) in the western part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Moreover, through Koch's postulates, it was proven that LCFJ-001 can cause mulberry wilt, which is one of the pathogens of mulberry bacterial wilt. Here, we report a complete, annotated genome sequence of P. ananatis LCFJ-001. The entire genome sequence of P. ananatis strain LCFJ-001 was a 4,499,350 bp circular chromosome with 53.50% GC content. In total, 3,521 genes were annotated, of which 3,418 were assigned protein-coding genes. In addition, 22 ribosomal RNAs and 81 transfer RNAs were identified. The presented resource will help explore the pathogenetic mechanisms of mulberry wilt disease caused by the genus Pantoea.

Fruits as nutraceuticals: A review of the main fruits included in nutraceutical patents

Fruits have relevant usefulness in the elaboration of nutraceutical compositions and, as it is considered a "natural medicine", its market has been growing exponentially each year. Fruits, in general, contain a large source of phytochemicals, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids, peptides and antioxidants that are of interest to be prepared as nutraceuticals. The biological properties of its nutraceuticals can range from antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-Alzheimer, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, among others. Furthermore, the need for innovative extraction methods and products reveals the importance of developing new nutraceutical compositions. This review was developed by searching patents of nutraceuticals from January 2015 until January 2022 in Espacenet, the search database of the European Patent Office (EPO). Of 215 patents related to nutraceuticals, 43% (92 patents) were including fruits, mainly berries. A great number of patents were focused on the treatment of metabolic diseases, representing 45% of the total patents. The principal patent applicant was the United States of America (US), with 52%. The patents were applied by researchers, industries, research centers and institutes. It is important to highlight that from 92 fruit nutraceutical patent applications reviewed, 13 already have their products available on the market.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Integrated Analysis of Mulberry Leaves for Insight into the Formation of Bitter Taste

Mulberry leaves are excellent for health care, confirmed as a 'drug homologous food' by the Ministry of Health, China. The bitter taste of mulberry leaves is one of the main problems that hinders the development of the mulberry food industry. The bitter, unique taste of mulberry leaves is difficult to eliminate by post-processing. In this study, the bitter metabolites in mulberry leaves were identified as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, coumarins and L-amino acids by a combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome of mulberry leaves. The analysis of the differential metabolites showed that the bitter metabolites were diverse and the sugar metabolites were down-regulated, indicating that the bitter taste of mulberry leaves was a comprehensive reflection of various bitter-related metabolites. Multi-omics analysis showed that the main metabolic pathway related to bitter taste in mulberry leaves was galactose metabolism, indicating that soluble sugar was one of the main factors of bitter taste difference in mulberry leaves. Bitter metabolites play a great role in the medicinal and functional food of mulberry leaves, but the saccharides in mulberry leaves have a great influence on the bitter taste of mulberry. Therefore, we propose to retain bitter metabolites with drug activity in mulberry leaves and increase the content of sugars to improve the bitter taste of mulberry leaves as strategies for mulberry leaf food processing and mulberry breeding for vegetable use.

Himalayan Sources of Anthocyanins and Its Multifunctional Applications: A Review

Anthocyanins, the colored water-soluble pigments, have increasingly drawn the attention of researchers for their novel applications. The sources of anthocyanin are highly diverse, and it can be easily extracted. The unique biodiversity of the Himalayan Mountain range is an excellent source of anthocyanin, but it is not completely explored. Numerous attempts have been made to study the phytochemical aspects of different Himalayan plants. The distinct flora of the Himalayas can serve as a potential source of anthocyanins for the food industry. In this context, this review is an overview of the phytochemical studies conducted on Himalayan plants for the estimation of anthocyanins. For that, many articles have been studied to conclude that plants (such as Berberis asiatica, Morus alba, Ficus palmata, Begonia xanthina, Begonia palmata, Fragaria nubicola, etc.) contain significant amounts of anthocyanin. The application of Himalayan anthocyanin in nutraceuticals, food colorants, and intelligent packaging films have also been briefly debated. This review creates a path for further research on Himalayan plants as a potential source of anthocyanins and their sustainable utilization in the food systems.

Physiological and Transcriptome Analyses of Photosynthesis in Three Mulberry Cultivars within Two Propagation Methods (Cutting and Grafting) under Waterlogging Stress

Mulberry is a valuable woody plant with significant economic importance. It can be propagated through two main methods: cutting and grafting. Waterlogging can have a major impact on mulberry growth and can significantly reduce production. In this study, we examined gene expression patterns and photosynthetic responses in three waterlogged mulberry cultivars propagated through cutting and grafting. Compared to the control group, waterlogging treatments reduced levels of chlorophyll, soluble protein, soluble sugars, proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, the treatments significantly decreased the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in all three cultivars, except for superoxide dismutase (SOD). Waterlogging treatments also affected the rate of photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) in all three cultivars. However, no significant difference in physiological response was observed between the cutting and grafting groups. Gene expression patterns in the mulberry changed dramatically after waterlogging stress and varied between the two propagation methods. A total of 10,394 genes showed significant changes in expression levels, with the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) varying between comparison groups. GO and KEGG analysis revealed important DEGs, including photosynthesis-related genes that were significantly downregulated after waterlogging treatment. Notably, these genes were upregulated at day 10 in the cutting group compared to the grafting group. In particular, genes involved in carbon fixation were significantly upregulated in the cutting group. Finally, cutting propagation methods displayed better recovery capacity from waterlogging stress than grafting. This study provides valuable information for improving mulberry genetics in breeding programs.