Botanical name- Morus alba Linn.
Family– Moraceae
Identification No.:SDACH/HG/105
Vernacular names-
Hindi name- Shahatoot
English name- Mulberry (White)
Telugu and Tamil name- Malbari
Sanskrit Synonyms
Tula, Brahmadaru, Kramuka
Morphology
The plant is a native of China and presently cultivated in the state of Punjab, Karnataka Uttar Pradesh and North Eastern states of India. It is a fast-growing, small to medium-
sized tree which grows to 10-20 m tall. The white mulberry is widely cultivated to feed the
silkworms employed in the commercial production of silk. It is also notable for the
rapid release of its pollen.
Rasapanchak
Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (Sweet), Amla (Sour)
Guna (Qualities) – Guru
Vipaka – Madhura
Veerya – Sheeta
Karma – Vata shamaka
Part used- Leaf, Bark. Fruit
Dosage-
Bark powder- 3 to 5 g
Decoction- 50 to 100 ml
Chemical composition –
The plant is rich in phenolics. The leaves contain flavonoids, artocarpin, cycloartocarpin and analogues. The root of the plant contains flavonoids like kuwanons, sangennons, mulberrosides and mulberofurans. The small branches contain mulberrin, fructose, glucose, falvonoid, coumarin, arabinose, xylose, stachyose, sucrose. The fruit contains carotene, vitamins A and C, thamene, riboflavin, tannin, linoleic and stearic acids.
IUCN Status : Least Concern
Research Update-
Antidiabetic Activity (2020) – A study demonstrated that Morus alba leaf extract significantly lowered blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats. (Journal of Ethnopharmacology)
Neuroprotective Effects (2021) – Fruit extract showed protective effects against neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease models through antioxidant mechanisms. (Frontiers in Pharmacology)
Anti-obesity Potential (2022) – Leaf extract reduced body weight gain, fat accumulation, and improved lipid profiles in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. (Phytotherapy Research)
Hepatoprotective Activity (2023) – Methanolic extract of Morus alba leaves exhibited significant hepatoprotective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity in rats. (Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy)
Antimicrobial & Wound Healing (2024) – Leaf and bark extracts were found to accelerate wound healing and showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies)
