PMID: 

Clin Exp Hypertens. 2019 ;41(3):280-286. Epub 2018 May 17. PMID: 29771623

Abstract Title: 

Effects of an ethanolic extract of mulberry fruit on blood pressure and vascular remodeling in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Abstract: 

Mulberry (Morus alba) has been used in traditional oriental medicine since ages. Recently, it has been reported that mulberry produces hypotensive effects through the eNOS signaling pathway. However, the mechanism underlying the hypotensive effects of mulberry is not entirely clear. Moreover, the effects of mulberry on vascular remodeling events such as hyperplasia, an important etiology in the pathogenesis of hypertension and arteriosclerosis, are also ambiguous. Here, we hypothesized that an ethanolic extract of mulberry fruit (EMF) has beneficial effects on vascular remodeling and produces hypotensive effects. The effects of a 6-week oral administration of EMF were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The animals were divided into four groups: normotensive control (Wistar Kyoto rats), non-treated SHR, low-dose (100 mg/kg) EMF-treated SHR, and high-dose (300 mg/kg) EMF-treated SHR. Our results showed that the EMF-diet normalizes hypertension in SHRs in a dose-dependent manner, by preventing smooth muscle proliferation, thickening of the tunica media, and vascular hyper-reactivity. The endothelial functions were not substantially affected by the EMF diet in our experimental setting. In conclusion, we suggest that the mulberry fruit could act as a food supplement for reducing blood pressure in hypertensive subjects through its effects on smooth muscle proliferation and vascular contractility.

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PMID: 

Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2019 Sep ;24(3):254-264. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31608250

Abstract Title: 

Phenolic Content Analysis ofGel and Evaluation of the Effect of Aloe Gel Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis in Isoprenaline-Administered Cardiac Damage in Rats.

Abstract: 

We evaluated the cardioprotective effect ofgel isoprenaline (ISO)-administered myocardial infarction in rats. ISO administration increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rats, which were ameliorated bygel supplementation. Our study also revealed that creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activities were increased in ISO-administered rats, while the activities of cellular antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and glutathione concentration were decreased.gel lowered CK-MB enzyme activities and the glutathione concentration in ISO-administered rats, and increased antioxidant activities. Histopathological examination also revealed increases in thickness of the left ventricle myocardium, increases in mononuclear cell infiltrations, increased degeneration of focal areas of the endocardium, and increased fibrous tissue deposition in the heart of ISO-administered rats; whereas,prevented infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduced left ventricular fibrosis. In conclusion, we show thatsupplementation protects against development of cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress in ISO-administered rats.

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Research over the past two decades shows that certain herbal medicines can fight the new Wuhan coronavirus contagion

PMID: 

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020 Feb ;148(2):243-252. Epub 2019 Dec 11. PMID: 31736077

Abstract Title: 

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the effect of Morus nigra L. (black mulberry) leaf powder on symptoms and quality of life among climacteric women.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of Morus nigra L. (MN) leaf powder for treating climacteric symptoms by comparison with hormone therapy (HT) and placebo.METHODS: A randomized controlled trial among 62 climacteric women attending Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil. Women were divided into MN, HT, and placebo groups, and received 250 mg of MN leaf powder, 1 mg of estradiol, or placebo for 60 days. Primary outcomes were the Blatt-Kupperman index (BKI) for climacteric symptoms and SF-36 health questionnaire scores.RESULTS: Baseline sociodemographic variables, BKI scores, symptoms, and SF-36 domains did not differ among the groups. There was a reduction in mean BKI in the MN (17.5 vs 9.7, P

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2019 Apr 19 ;24(8). Epub 2019 Apr 19. PMID: 31010179

Abstract Title: 

Antiviral Activities of Silymarin and Derivatives.

Abstract: 

Silymarin flavonolignans are well-known agents that typically possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective functions. Recent studies have also documented the antiviral activities of silymarin and its derivatives against several viruses, including the flaviviruses (hepatitis C virus and dengue virus), togaviruses (Chikungunya virus and Mayaro virus), influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis B virus. This review will describe some of the latest preclinical and clinical studies detailing the antiviral profiles of silymarin and its derivatives, and discuss their relevance for antiviral drug development.

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PMID: 

Phytomedicine. 2019 Dec 16 ;67:153150. Epub 2019 Dec 16. PMID: 31958713

Abstract Title: 

Flavonoids from Houttuynia cordata attenuate H1N1-induced acute lung injury in mice via inhibition of influenza virus and Toll-like receptor signalling.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Influenza virus is one of the most important human pathogens, causing substantial seasonal and pandemic morbidity and mortality. Houttuynia cordata is a traditionally used medicinal plant for the treatment of pneumonia. Flavonoids are one of the major bioactive constituents of Houttuynia cordata.PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of flavonoid glycosides from H. cordata on influenza A virus (IAV)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice.METHODS: Flavonoids from H. cordata (HCF) were extracted from H. cordata and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mice were infected intranasally with influenza virus H1N1 (A/FM/1/47). HCF (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) or Ribavirin (100 mg/kg, the positive control) were administered intragastrically. Survival rates, life spans, weight losses, lung indexes, histological changes, inflammatory infiltration, and inflammatory markers in the lungs were measured. Lung virus titers and neuraminidase (NA) activities were detected. The expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and levels of NF-κB p65 phosphorylation (NF-κB p65(p)) in the lungs were analysed. The effects of HCF on viral replication and TLR signalling were further evaluated in cells.RESULTS: HCF contained 78.5% flavonoid glycosides. The contents of rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, and quercitrin in HCF were 8.8%, 26.7%, 9.9% and 31.7%. HCF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) increased the survival rate and life span of mice infected with the lethal H1N1 virus. In H1N1-induced ALI, mice treated with HCF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) showed lesser weight loss and lower lung index than the model group. The lungs of HCF-treated ALI mice presented more intact lung microstructural morphology, milder inflammatory infiltration, and lower levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) than in the model group. Further investigation revealed that HCF exerted antiviral and TLR-inhibitoryeffects in vivo and in vitro. HCF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) reduced lung H1N1 virus titers and inhibited viral NA activity in mice. HCF (100 and 200 mg/kg) elevated the levels of interferon-β in lungs. HCF also decreased the expression of TLR3/4/7 and level of NF-κB p65(p) in lung tissues. In vitro experiments showed that HCF (50, 100 and 200 μg/ml) significantly inhibited viral proliferation and suppressed NA activity. In RAW 264.7 cells, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR7 agonist-stimulated cytokine secretion, NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation were constrained by HCF treatment. Furthermore, among the four major flavonoid glycosides in HCF, hyperin and quercitrin inhibited both viral replication and TLR signalling in cells.CONCLUSION: HCF significantly alleviated H1N1-induced ALI in mice, which were associated with its dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects via inhibiting influenzal NA activity and TLR signalling. among the four major flavonoid glycosides in HCF, hyperin and quercitrin played key roles in the therapeutic effect of HCF.

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PMID: 

Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 May 21 ;7(5). Epub 2018 May 21. PMID: 29883416

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Mulberry Fruit (L.) Consumption on Health Outcomes: A Mini-Review.

Abstract: 

Mulberry (L.) belongs to the Moraceae family and is widely planted in Asia. Mulberry fruits are generally consumed as fresh fruits, jams and juices. They contain considerable amounts of biologically active ingredients that might be associated with some potential pharmacological activities that are beneficial for health. Therefore, they have been traditionally used in traditional medicine. Studies have reported that the presence of bioactive components in mulberry fruits, including alkaloids and flavonoid, are associated with bioactivities such as antioxidant. One of the most important compounds in mulberry fruits is anthocyanins which are water-soluble bioactive ingredients of the polyphenol class. Studies have shown that mulberry fruits possess several potential pharmacological health benefits including anti-cholesterol, anti-obesity and hepatoprotective effects which might be associated with the presence of some of these bioactive compounds. However, human intervention studies on the pharmacological activities of mulberry fruits are limited. Therefore, future studies should explore the effect of mulberry fruit consumption on human health and elucidate the detailed compounds. This paper provides an overview of the pharmacological activities of mulberry fruits.

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PMID: 

Front Physiol. 2018 ;9:1051. Epub 2018 Aug 7. PMID: 30131712

Abstract Title: 

Mulberry Leaf Regulates Differentially Expressed Genes in Diabetic Mice Liver Based on RNA-Seq Analysis.

Abstract: 

The pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus is a complicated process involving much gene regulation. The molecular mechanism of mulberry (L.) leaf in the treatment of diabetes is not fully understood. In this study, we used the Illumina HiSeq™ 2,500 platform to explore the liver transcriptome of normal mice, STZ-induced diabetic mice, and mulberry leaf-treated diabetic mice, and we obtained 52,542,956, 52,626,414, and 52,780,196 clean reads, respectively. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the pathogenesis of diabetes in mice. The functional properties of DEGs were characterized by comparison with the GO and KEGG databases, and the results show that DEGs are mainly involved in the metabolic pathway. qRT-PCR was used to analyse 27 differential genes involved in liver expression in different groups of diabetic mice. Among the DEGs, the expression of, and other genes between the control (C) and diabetic control (DC) groups was significantly upregulated; the expression of, andwas significantly downregulated; the expression of the, andgenes between the C group and diabetic group treated with mulberry (DD) was significantly upregulated; the expression of, andwas significantly downregulated; and the expression ofandwas significantly upregulated in the DC and DD groups, but, andwere significantly downregulated. The results of Western blot validation showed that dynamic changes in proteins, such as IGF2, Ly6a, Grb10, and UBD, occurred to regulate the incidence of diabetes by influencing the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) signaling pathway.

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PMID: 

J Tradit Complement Med. 2018 Oct ;8(4):497-505. Epub 2018 Mar 2. PMID: 30302330

Abstract Title: 

Anti-inflammatory and preventive activity of white mulberry root bark extract in an experimental model of pancreatitis.

Abstract: 

Pancreatitis is characterized by highly morbid inflammation in the pancreas. Currently, there is no specific drug available for pancreatitis except supportive medicines. The present study assessed the pancreato-protective effect ofroot bark extract by using alcohol and cerulein-induced model of pancreatitis. The study also investigated the phytochemical profile through GC-MS and HPLC. Methanolic extract ofroot bark extract (MEMARB) was subjected to GC-MS and HPLC studies. Male albino Wistar rats were administered ethanol (0%-36%) and cerulein (20 μg/kg b.wt. i.p.) with or without MEMARB. Serum lipase, amylase, caspase-1, lipid peroxidation products, glutathione and enzymatic antioxidants were determined. Histological changes in the pancreas were assessed. Cudraflavone B in MEMARB was quantified by HPLC. Significant amount of CudraflavoneB was detected by quantitative HPLC. Marked increase in the levels of serum amylase, lipase, caspase-1, IL-18 and IL-1β were observed in ethanol and cerulein administered rats than in MEMARB co-administered rats. In MEMARB co-administered rats, the antioxidant status was restored to near normal levels. Histological examinations showed that MEMARB significantly reduced the inflammatory and fibrotic changes. The results reveal the potent pancreato-protective effects ofroot bark. The anti-inflammatory effect ofroot bark extract might be due to the presence of various phytonutrients including Cudraflavone B.

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2019 Jul 8 ;24(13). Epub 2019 Jul 8. PMID: 31288489

Abstract Title: 

Antispasmodic Activity of Prenylated Phenolic Compounds from the Root Bark of.

Abstract: 

Black mulberry is a widely acknowledged ancient traditional medicine. Its extract and constituents have been reported to exert various bioactivities including antimicrobial, hypotensive, analgesic etc. effects. While black mulberry preparations are also used as antispasmodic agents in folk medicine, no related studies are available on its isolated constituents. Through an extensive chromatographic purification, seven phenolic compounds were isolated from the methanol extract ofroot bark, including morusin (), kuwanon U (), kuwanon E (), moracin P (), moracin O (), albanol A (), and albanol B (). A complete NMR signal assignment of moracin P and O was achieved, and related literature errors confusing the identity of moracin derivatives are hereby clarified. Compounds,andwere identified as strong antispasmodic agents on isolated rat ileum and tracheal smooth muscles, while compound, a methoxy derivative of, was inactive. Moracin O () inhibited the ileal and tracheal smooth muscle contractions with Evalues of 85% and 302 mg, respectively. Those actions were superior as compared with papaverine. Our findings demonstrate that prenylated arylbenzofurans, geranylated flavonoids and Diels-Alder adducts fromare valuable antispasmodic agents. Compounds,andare suggested as marker compounds for quality control of antispasmodic mulberry preparations. Moracin O () is a new lead compound for related drug development initiatives.

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