• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.397-402
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• 2013

Morus Folium (Sang-yeop in Korean) is one of the most important Oriental medicinal plants. In Korea, both M. alba and M. cathayana are regarded as the botanical sources for Morus Folium. In order to discriminate M. alba and M. cathayana from their adulterant, M. tricuspidata, mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 2 region was targeted for molecular analysis with universal primers. DNA polymorphisms, including SNP sites, insertions, and deletions, were detected among these three species sequencing data. Based on these DNA polymorphisms, specific primers were designed for the three species respectively. Multiplex PCR was conducted for molecular authentication of M. alba, M. cathayana, and M. tricuspidata with specific primers. The present results indicate that it is possible to identify Morus Folium from its adulterant using mitochondrial nad7 intron 2 region. The established multiplex-PCR system was proved to be effective for identification of Morus Folium. The results indicate that mitochondrial introns can be used for inter-specific polymorphic study, and the described method can be applied for molecular identification of medicinal materials.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2016

Background: Immunoregulatory elements have emerged as useful immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. In traditional medicine, Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been used for various medicinal purposes; however, the immunomodulatory effects have not been fully identified. We evaluated the immunoenhancing potential of water extract of Mori folium (WEMF) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were treated with WEMF for 24 hours and cell viability was detected by an MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in the culture supernatants were assayed using Griess reagent. The productions of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and immune-related cytokines was measured using ELISA detection kits. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and cytokines were assayed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effect of WEMF on phagocytic activity was measured using a Phagocytosis Assay Kit. Results: WEMF significantly stimulated the production of NO and $PGE_2$ as immune response parameters at noncytotoxic concentrations, which was associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase and COX-2. The release and expression of cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10, were also significantly increased in response to treatment with WEMF. Moreover, WEMF promoted the macrophagic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and the resulting phagocytosis activity. Conclusions: WEMF has the potential to modulate the immune function by regulating immunological parameters. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and to support the use of WEMF as an immune stimulant.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2014

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the anti-oxidative potentials to wide the usage of Morus alba L. derived from medicinal herbs on cosmoceutical fields. Methods : Anti-oxidative potentials were investigated by using several kinds of assays including electron donating ability, and the total contents of phenolic compounds were also measured. In some cases TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) method were used to identify the patterns of phenolics in herbal extracts. Results : Aurones which are sub-types of flavonoids were observed in methanol extract of Mori Cortex Radidus, and total phenolic contents in Mori Cortex Radidus were more than in methanol extracts of Mori Folium and Mori Ramulus. Various kinds of phenolic compounds were observed in chloroform fraction of Mori Cortex Radidus. Conclusion : According to these results, the chloroform fraction of Mori Cortex Radidus could be the most possible resource that has potentials on anti-oxidant agents on cosmoceutical fields.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.09a
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• pp.84-85
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• 2011

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of Mori Folium (Morus alba L. of Moraceae) extract (MFE) on high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes mellitus in mice. Methods : The mice (C57BL/6J) were fed HFD for 8 weeks and then was induced with a single injection of STZ (75 mg/kg). The diabetic mice were divided into four groups [(STD, HFD, HFD + MFE and HFD + quercetin (QUR)] and administered with MFE or OUR for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile (triglycerides and cholesterol etc.), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), insulin and leptin were measured every 2 weeks. Results : Body weight gain was lower in the MFE and QUR groups than HFD group. The fasting blood glucose was lower in the MFE and QUR groups. Oral glucose and insulin tolerance were decreased in the MFE and QUR groups. The levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were reduced in the MFE and QUR groups. The HDL cholesterol was much higher in the MFE and QUR groups than HFD group. The levels of GOT, GPT and atherogenic index were decreased in the MFE and QUR groups. The serum insulin and leptin concentrations were reduced in the MFE and QUR groups. Conclusions : These results showed that MFE could decrease blood glucose level and lead to an amelioration in dyslipidemia states on HFD/STZ-induced type II diabetes mellitus in mice.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2000

In order to find out hypoglycemic constituents from natural resources, Korean medicinal plants being used for the treatments of diabetes mellitus were tested with streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. From the above screening, the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction of 80% methanol extracts of Morus alba leaves showed hypoglycemic activity. The $CH_2Cl_2$fraction was chromatographed on silica gel, resulting in 9 subfractions, and tested hypoglycemic activity. The subfraction which had a strong hypoglycemic activity was rechromatographed and two galactolipids (compounds 1 and 2) were isolated along with a triterpene (compound 3) from other fractions. On the basis of spectroscopic data, acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis and enzyme hydrolysis results, compounds 1, 2 and 3 were identified as $1-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octatrienoyl)-2-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octatrienoyl)-3-O-{\beta}-D-galactopyranosyl$ glycerol, $2(R)-1-O-octadecanoyl-2-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octatrienoyl)-3-O-{\beta}-D-galactopyranosyl$ glycerol, and $3{\beta}-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene$ acetate, respectively. Compound 2 (1mg/kg p.o.) has approximately 16% hypoglycemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2017

Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb that shows various pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antimelanogenesis, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by ethanol extracts of Mori Folium (EEMF) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EEMF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in the lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EEMF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$). In addition, EEMF potentially downregulated the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and leptin. Furthermore, EEMF treatment effectively increased the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC); however, treatment with a potent inhibitor of AMPK, compound C, significantly restored the EEMF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results together indicate that EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of adipogenesis through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds in Mori Folium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.435-443
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• 2018

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic master through regulating and restoring cellular energy balance. In skeletal muscle, AMPK increases myofibril protein degradation through the expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases. Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with muscle atrophy have not been fully identified. In this study, we confirmed the effects of AMPK activation by examining the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, on the induction of atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in C2C12 myotubes. We also investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Mori Folium (EEMF) on the recovery of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. It was found that exposure to AICAR resulted in the stimulation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); an up-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases such as Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and a down-regulation of muscle-specific transcription factors, such as MyoD and myogenin; with the activation of AMPK. In addition, AICAR without cytotoxicity indicated a decrease in diameter of C2C12 myotubes. However, treatment with EEMF significantly suppressed AICAR-induced muscle atrophy of C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in myotube diameter, which is associated with a reversed stimulation of FOXO3a by the inhibition of AMPK activation. These results indicate that the activation of AMPK by AICAR induces muscle atrophy, and EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy through the AMPK signaling pathway.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.844-852
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• 2011

In this study, various antioxidant propertieswere evaluated by analyzing the proximate composition and free-sugar and DNJ contents of the Bombyx mori L., Mori fructus, Morus ramulus, Mori folium, Dioscoreae rhizome and Inonotus obliquus extracts, and the antidiabetic effect was evaluated through an in-vivo experiment. Product evaluation was conducted after preparing a beverage for the easy use of the mixed extract for biological activity, as a functional resource. The biochemical composition of the extracts was 0.31% crude protein, 0.114 g/100 mL free sugar and 161.02 mg/gdw DNJ, all of which showed excellent results in all the antioxidant ability and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition ability experiments. The beverage showed the following functionalities. The total-polyphenol content was 71.93%, but the electron-donating ability was highest in the 5% extract concentration. Moreover, when the TBARS values were experimented on, KO2 showed an especially high scavenging ability. During the five-week beverage supply after inducing diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ), the change in the blood sugar was measured, and the STZ-induced diabetes+oral-beverage group (C) showed a lower blood sugar level than the diabetes comparative group (B) in the second week. In the STZ-induced diabetes+free-diet/beverage group (D), the blood glucose level also slowly decreased in the second week. The lowest blood glucose level among the STZ-induced diabetes groups was shown in the fifth week.