Potential Role of Mulberry Fruits in Biomedicine
Jasmeena Qadir
PG Department of Sericulture, Poonch Campus, University of Jammu, 185101 (J&K), India.
Tajamul Islam *
Department of Sericulture, Government Degree College (Boys) Sopore, 193201 (J&K), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mulberries are flavorsome, delicate, healthy and toxin-free remarked as a third-generation fruit. Mulberry fruits can be freshly consumed or converted to edible food products viz., jams, jellies, pulps, sauces, cakes and food colorant. As humans face many chronic lifestyle diseases, the need for plant-based medicines is gaining momentum because they are safe and eco-friendly. The mulberry fruit possesses certain bioactive compounds like cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, quercetin, moracin C, Melatonin etc. These bio active compounds have various beneficial pharmacological properties such as anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective and antioxidant. Therefore, the mulberry fruit acquires importance and can be utilized as an ingredient for developing plant-derived biomedicines for ameliorating various chronic diseases.
Keywords: Mulberry fruits, bioactive compounds, antioxidants, Morus nigra, hepatoprotective, chronic diseases