Use of Mulberry for the Pharmaceutical Sector: Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Potential and Translational Perspectives

Abstract

Several bioactive molecules derived from mulberry have already achieved considerable prominence in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical research. Mulberry (Morus spp.), a member of the family Moraceae, has been cultivated across Asia, Europe, and the Americas for millennia, principally for sericulture but increasingly recognised for its remarkable medicinal properties. The genus Morus encompasses three principal species — Morus alba L. (white mulberry), Morus nigra L. (black mulberry), and Morus rubra L. (red mulberry) — each harbouring a rich repertoire of bioactive secondary metabolites distributed across leaves, fruits, root bark, branches, and seeds. These phytochemicals, encompassing flavonoids, alkaloids, stilbenes, polysaccharides, anthocyanins, and terpenoids, underlie a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities including antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardiovascular-protective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, dermatological, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory effects. Most notably, the iminosugar 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has attracted considerable attention as a potent inhibitor of intestinal α-glucosidase, positioning mulberry as a compelling natural candidate for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prenylated flavone morusin exhibits dose-dependent anticancer activity across multiple malignancies through apoptotic and antiproliferative mechanisms. Equally significant are the stilbene oxyresveratrol, a powerful tyrosinase inhibitor with skin-whitening potential, and structural polysaccharides that confer immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective benefits. This review comprehensively synthesises recent literature on the phytochemistry, pharmacological mechanisms, clinical evidence, safety profile, and drug delivery innovations centred on Morus spp. It also highlights gaps in translational research and future directions for the exploitation of mulberry as a pharmaceutical resource.