Protective Effects of Morus nigra and Its Phytochemicals against Hepatotoxicity: A Review of Preclinical Studies.

BACKGROUND: Our liver has a variety of vital functions including removing poisons, storing energy, immunological roles, and secretory and excretory functions. It may face some kinds of diseases caused by viruses, hepatotoxic chemicals, drugs, alcohol, and inherited disorders. Oxidative stress and inflammation are in the core of mechanisms of liver damages induced by viruses or chemical agents. SUMMARY: Morus nigra (M. nigra), generally known as black mulberry, exhibited wide-spectrum pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, antinociceptive, anticancer, and hepatoprotective activities. Different parts of this plant particularly the fruit and leaf have shown beneficial effects on hepatocytes in cell culture and animal models of liver damages induced by chemicals (e.g., CCl4), drugs (e.g., paracetamol), diet (e.g., high fat), diabetes, etc. The beneficial effects of M. nigra on the liver are attributed to the presence of considerable amounts of phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids. The present review is aimed to focus on the hepatoprotective activities of M. nigra and its phytochemicals and the mechanisms responsible for these activities. Key Messages: The evidence reviewed in this study can help design clinical trials on M. nigra in patients with liver disorders and develop a hepatoprotective herbal medicine.

Genotoxicity and 28-day oral toxicity studies of a functional food mixture containing maltodextrin, white kidney bean extract, mulberry leaf extract, and niacin-bound chromium complex.

Steady-fiber granule (SFG) is a functional food mixture that is composed of four major ingredients, resistant maltodextrin, white kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) extract, mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) extract, and niacin-bound chromium complex. This study focused on determining the safety of SFG. Genotoxicity and 28-day oral toxicity were evaluated. SFG did not induce mutagenicity in the bacterial reverse mutation assay using five Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535, and TA1537) in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9 system). SFG also did not induce clastogenic effects in Chinese hamster ovary cells with or without S9 treatment. Similarly, SFG did not induce genotoxicity in a micronucleus test conducted with mice. A dose-dependent 28-day oral toxicity assessment of SFG for rats revealed no significant effects on mortality, body weight, selected organ weights, and behavior. Evaluations of hematology, clinical biochemistry, and histopathology showed no adverse effects in rats treated with SFG. These results suggest that SFG has no significant mutagenic or toxic properties, and the no observed adverse effect level of SFG was defined as at least 5000 mg/kg/day orally for 28 days for male and female rats.

Identification of a lipid transfer protein as a new allergen from morus alba pollen

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Immunoglobulin E Reactivity and Allergenic Potency of Morus papyrifera (Paper Mulberry) Pollen

Antecedentes: El polen de la morera del papel se considera uno de los aeroalérgenos más relevantes en Pakistán, cuyas propiedades alergénicas no han sido estudiadas hasta el momento actual. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar el perfil de sensibilización de los pacientes alérgicos a las proteínas de este polen que contribuye a la polinosis en Pakistán. Métodos: La extracción de las proteínas de este polen fue realizada mediante diferentes protocolos. La unión de la IgE a proteínas del polen de la morera del papel, perteneciente a la familia de las moráceas fue determinada mediante InmunoCAP e Inmunoblotting utilizando suero de 29 pacientes alérgicos a este polen con prueba cutánea positiva. Se realizó test de liberación de histamina in vitro para determinar la potencia alergénica de los extractos de polen y de un alérgeno parcialmente purificado. Se secuenciaron la N-terminal y MALDI-TOF/TOF para identificar la proteína. Resultados: En cuanto a los resultados obtenidos se confirmó la sensibilización a dicho polen mediante ImmunoCAP frente a polen de Morus alba en 23 de los 29 pacientes alérgicos al polen de morera del papel. Una proteína de 10 kDa del extracto de dicho polen se consideró como el alérgeno mayor sobre el resto de las proteínas reactivas a la IgE. El suero del 79% de los pacientes reaccionó con este alérgeno de 10 kDa, el cual mostró capacidad para liberar histamina in vitro en 3 de 4 pacientes. La secuenciación N-terminal y MALDI-TOF/TOF arrojó una secuencia de aminoácidos con ausencia de homología con otras proteínas conocidas. Conclusiones: En conclusión, los pacientes alérgicos al polen de morera del papel están sensibilizados a múltiples alérgenos de este polen. Se identifica una nueva proteína de 10 kDa como alérgeno mayoritario que deberá ser investigado con fines diagnósticos y terapéuticos (AU)

Background: Paper mulberry (Morus papyrifera) pollen is considered to be one of the most clinically relevant aeroallergens in Pakistan. To date, the allergenicity of the pollen has not been investigated. Objective: To characterize the sensitization profile of mulberry-allergic patients and the proteins of paper mulberry pollen contributing to pollinosis in the Pakistani population. Methods: Proteins were extracted from mulberry pollen using different protocols. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E binding proteins to mulberry pollen was determined by ImmunoCAP testing and immunoblotting using sera from 29 mulberry pollen–allergic patients with positive skin prick test results to mulberry pollen antigens. The histamine release assay was performed in vitro to determine the allergenic potency of pollen extracts and a partially purified mulberry pollen allergen. The protein was identified using N-terminal sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Results: IgE sensitization to mulberry pollen was confirmed by positive ImmunoCAP results to pollen from Morus alba (white mulberry) in 23 out of 29 mulberry pollen–allergic patients. A 10-kDa protein from the paper mulberry pollen extract was considered a major allergen, along with additional IgE-reactive proteins. Sera from 79% of the patients reacted to the 10-kDa allergen, which showed substantial capacity to trigger histamine release in 3 out of 4 patients. N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF/TOF yielded an amino acid sequence with no homology to known proteins. Conclusions: Mulberry-allergic patients are sensitized to multiple mulberry pollen allergens. We identified a novel 10-kDa protein that was a major allergen and should be further investigated for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (AU)

Four types of traditional Chinese medicine inducing epileptic seizures.

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used to treat disease in China for more than five thousand years. Over the last few decades it has been used increasingly in other countries as well. As its use has spread, interest in the adverse effects of traditional Chinese medicine, including epilepsy and epileptic seizures, has grown. To date, four types of traditional Chinese medicine have been found to induce epileptic seizures. In this review we will summarize the current knowledge about possible epileptogenic mechanisms of nux vomica, illicium henryi, betelnut and mulberry drawing on botanical, phytochemical, toxicological and animal studies.

Dynamic changes in sensitization to specific aeroallergens in children raised in a desert environment.

BACKGROUND: Allergen skin test reactivity and total serum IgE are objective measures used to characterize and help diagnose allergic diseases. Cross-sectional studies have shown that overall aeroallergen skin test reactivity increases throughout childhood. However, little attention has been paid to whether individual aeroallergen remittance occurs, which could distort or mask relationships to disease. OBJECTIVE: To access the incidence and remittance of skin test reactions to individual allergens in children aged 6-11 years. METHODS: Longitudinal sensitization to six aeroallergens and total IgE were assessed in 828 children raised in the semi-arid US southwest at ages 6 and 11 years. RESULTS: New sensitization (to any allergen) between 6 and 11 years occurred in 30.2% of children compared with 39.7% before age 6 years. The rate of complete remittance from positive to negative between ages 6 and 11 years was 8.2%, and total IgE at age 6 years was not predictive. Remittance rates for individual allergens were high and variable (19-49%). The perennial allergens Bermuda and Alternaria were early sensitizers and had low remittance rates. Early sensitization to the four seasonal allergens was less common and more subject to remittance with the bulk of sensitization occurring between 6 and 11 years. CONCLUSION: This study shows that sensitization to individual aeroallergens in childhood is dynamic and indicates the limitation of single point assessment of skin test reactivity.

Fig and mulberry cross-allergy.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to ingestion of figs (Ficus carica) and mulberries (Morus nigra and Morus alba) are considered uncommon and have never been reported as occurring in the same patient. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hypersensitivity to figs and mulberries can induce cross-allergy. METHODS: We describe 3 cases of associated fig and mulberry allergy in 3 patients with multiple sensitizations to food allergens (mostly fruit) and airborne allergens. The presence of specific IgE was investigated by skin prick tests and radioallergosorbent tests. RESULTS: The 3 patients had a convincing clinical history of food allergy caused by eating fresh figs, and in all 3 cases clinical and/or laboratory evidence of sensitization to mulberries was also collected. CONCLUSIONS: We reason that Ficus and Morus are closely related genera of the Moraceae family and speculate that hypersensitivity to figs and mulberries might be associated as the result of allergen cross-reactivity rather than mere coincidence.

Mulberry (Morus alba) leaves as human food: a new dimension of sericulture.

Mulberry leaf is commonly used for sericulture in almost every part of the world but its potential to be utilized for human consumption is not well recognized. This paper deals with development of mulberry leaf powder and its use with wheat flour to develop paratha, the most common food item of breakfast and dinner in the Indian diet. The optimum ratio of the mulberry leaf powder and wheat flour (MLP-WF) mix for preparation of paratha on the basis of sensory quality was found to be 1:4. The protein quality of the MLP-WF mix was estimated by measuring the Protein Efficiency Ratio, and was found to be 1.82 against a casein diet for which a value of 2.44 was observed. The in vivo toxic effect of mix was studied and no adverse effect on the growth of internal organs of rats (heart, liver, kidney and testes) was found. The storage stability of the mix was estimated for a period of 2 months in polyethylene bags at room temperature. A non-significant difference was observed between paratha prepared from fresh and stored mix. This indicated that mix can be stored for a period of 2 months at room temperature without loss of quality.

Avaliação do potencial estrogênico de morus sp. em ratas wistar: estudo histológico e histomorfométrico: [revisão] / Evalution of the estrogenic effect of morus sp. in wistar rats: histology and histomorfometric study: [review]

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar se a infusão de folhas de Morus sp possui efeito estrogênico, visto que existem informações de seu uso popular, por mulheres no climatério, para substituir a terapêutica da reposição hormonal convencional. Para isto, ratas Wistar adultas foram ooforectomizadas e, após 17 dias de recuperação, distribuídas aleatoriamente em quatro grupos: Controle negativo (ooforectomizadas sem tratamento); Controle positivo (10ug/g de 17 b-estradiol); Infuso (2,8 mL/Kg de infusão de folhas de amora) e Veículo (1 mL de ágia destilada por via intragátrica). Todos os grupos, exceto o controle negativo, foram tratados por 20 dias consecutivos, período em que foi realizado, diariamente, o esfregaço vaginal para determinação da fase do ciclo. No 20º dia de tratamento, a ratas foram submetidas a excessos de inalação de éter para eutanásia. Útero e vagina foram removidos e fixados para análise histopatológica e histomorfométrica. Os resultados obtidos mostram que não houve diferença significativa na morfologia de útero e vagina, nem na proporção de fase estrogênica, com o uso do infuso de folhas de Morus sp.