An Overview of Correlations Between Therapeutic Uses and Chemical Composition of Morus nigra and Morus alba Species Fruits

Abstract

The therapeutic effects of the Morus nigra L. and Morus alba L. fruits can be highlighted by their bioactive principles composition. The paper correlates recognized therapeutic uses of mulberries species in folk medicine with the chemical composition literature data. Phytotherapeutic treatments based on mulberry fruit extracts are highlighted, which have given very good results in many diseases such as, allergies, asthma, gout, rheumatism, chronic fatigue, growth disorders, circulation disorders, hoarseness, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, hepatitis viral stress and exhaustion, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, hypercholesterolemia, gastroduodenal ulcer, prostate cancer. In the present paper, applying specific methods to pharmacognostic studies, active principles have been identified in various concentrations of hydroalcoholic fruits extracts. Could be consider that the indigenous vegetable products Morus nigra L. and Morus alba L. fructus harvested from the Dobrudja area flora, eastern of Romania, region with a favorable climate for the accumulation of vitamins and active ingredients, represents an important source of total phenols, ascorbic acid, citric acid, niacin and riboflavin. The increased content of carotenoids pigments and phenolic compounds emphasize the valuable antioxidant activity, which could be corelated also, with their important minerals content such as, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn. In order for these natural substances to be properly accumulated by the human body, we recommend the second half of June as the optimal harvest period for ripe fruits and using in various phytotherapeutic forms, juices, syrups, teas, or as fresh food fruits.