• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.171-178
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• 2023

Morus alba, a popular medicinal plant belonging to the family Moraceae, has long been used commonly in traditional medicine and has various physiological activities, including antidiabetic, anti-microbial, diuretic, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer activities. Morusinol was isolated from the root bark of M. alba; however, its biological effects have not yet been reported. Therefore, we examined the inhibitory effects of morusinol on human platelet aggregation, Ca²⁺ mobilization, and αIIb/β₃ activity. Our data showed that collagen-induced human platelet aggregation was inhibited by morusinol without cytotoxicity. In this study, we examined whether morusinol inhibits platelet aggregation through the regulation of integrin αIIb/β₃ and its associated signaling molecules. We observed that morusinol inhibited αIIb/β₃ activation by regulating vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt (protein kinase B), and glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β. These results show that morusinol inhibited fibronectin adhesion, fibrinogen binding, and clot retraction. Taken together, morusinol shows strong antiplatelet and anti-clot retraction effects and is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

Anti-obese effects of mulberry (Morus alba L.) root bark was investigated in vitro by measuring its inhibitory effect against 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and digestive enzymes such as ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Ethanol extract of mulberry root bark (MRE) showed the potent inhibitory activities on ${\alpha}$-amylase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase with $IC_{50}$ values of $7.86{\pm}0.36$, $0.12{\pm}0.03$ and $7.93{\pm}0.11mg/mL$, respectively. Furthermore, MRE significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism of MRE, we performed qRT-PCR and Western blotting for the expression of genes related with adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Treatment of MRE markedly suppressed the protein expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and SREBP-1c, as well as FAS and ACC, which are the key transcription factors and metabolic enzymes in adipogenesis and lipogenesis. In addition, qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the anti-adipogenesis effect of MRE might be due to its inhibition at transcription levels. These results demonstrate that MRE can effectively suppress adipocyte differentiation and inhibit key enzymes related to obesity. Our findings suggest that mulberry root bark may have a potential benefit in preventing obesity.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1989

To investigate changes of dry weight, C/N ratio, carbohydrate, ratein and nucleic acids in the barks of the hardwood cutting of mulberry plants, the barks of the hardwood cutting were taken every 10days from the cutting day to 40days after cutting. Results were summarized as follows : Growth of shoot and root in Keomseolppong (Morus bimbycis KoIDZ.) after cutting was better than that in kaeryangppon (Morus alba L.) and Daeryugppong(Morus Lhou(SER.) KoIDZ.). Dry weight in the barks of the hardwood cutting decreased up to 40days after cutting (decrease percentage of dry weight : about 14%) and Keomiseolppong showed the highest decrease precentage of dry weight. Change of C/N ratio decreased in the initiation, whereas that from 10days after cutting increased with the growth of new shoot, C/N ratio was the highest in Keomseolppong and the lowest in Kaeryangppong. Total sugar showed decreasing tendency up to 40 days after cutting the increase from 10 days to 20 days. Reducing sugar increased in the frist 20days, followed gradually decrease up to 40 days after cutting Starch levels decreased up to 40 days. Change in the content of starch closely paralleled to that of dry weight of bark of the hardwood cutting. Content of total sugar and starch in Keomseolppong was the highest, and was consumed more than that in the rest of varieties. Crude protein and soluble protein increased up to 10 days after cutting, followed decrease up to 40 days. Protein content of Keomseolppong was smaller than that in the rest of varieties. RNA content showed the same tendency with that of protein content, but Keomseolppong showed always the highest. Content of DNA did not show any change and difference among three varieties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.176-176
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• 1994

Moraceae comprise a large family of sixty genera and neary 1,400 specieses, including important groups such as Artocarpus, Morus, and Ficus. In particular, Morus(mulberry) is a small genus of tree and shrubs found in temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern hemishere and has been widely cultivated in China and Korea, In addition, the root bark of mulberry tree have been used as an antiphlogic, diuretic, and expectorant in white medicine, and the crude drug is known as "Sangbaikpi" in Korea. Recently, some papers have been published reporting the hypotensive effect, antiviral effect, antifungal effect, inhibitory effect of cAMP-phosphodiesterase, and anticancer effect of this extract. Little is known about that Cortex mori could have been an antiallergic effect. The purpose of this study was the development of an antiallergic agent with an antiallergic effect from Cortex mori. For this, several in vivo and in vitro experimental models were used. Results are 1) Cortex mori inhibited the compound 48/80-induced degranu-lation, histamine release and calcium uptake of rat peritoneal mast cells, 2) compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock and cutaneous reaction were significantly inhibited by pretreatment of Cortex mori, and 3) Cortex mori inhibited the ovalbumin-induced late astmatic reaction. From the above results it is suggested that Cortex mori has some substances with an antiallergic activity. Our final purpose of this study is to develope the new drug with an antiallergic activity from Cortex mori

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Objectives : The root bark of Morus alba L. (Mori Cortex Radidus; MCR) has been traditionally used to reduce heat from the lungs, soothe asthma, and edema and to promote urination. In this study, we investigated the effect of MCR ethanol extract on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized at day 0, 7 and 14 with 0.2% OVA and then airway challenged at day 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 to induce allergic asthma. MCR extracts at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) were orally administered during OVA challenge once per a day. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific IgE, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histopathological change of lung tissues was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : MCR extract significantly decreased not only the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 compared with those of OVA control group, but significantly increased the serum level of IFN-${\gamma}$. In H&E staining, MCR extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and bronchiolar damage with epithelial thickening in lung tissues of OVA-induced asthma mice. Conclusions : These results indicate that MCR extract inhibits lung damage by asthma through regulating the allergic immune response, suggesting that MCR may be used as a useful agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2006

Many plant extracts are known to have antioxidative effects. However, their activities can be reduced or disappeared during mass production process. The purpose of this study is to compare antioxidative effects of edible plant extracts distributed in Korea. forty three kinds of edible plant extracts commercially available in Korea were selected and investigated for their total phenolics contents and antioxidative potentials(DPPH radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities). In contents of total phenolics, the commercial plant extracts from Artemisia annua(whole plant), Ilex paraguariensis(leaf, Silybum marianum(fruit and leaf, Ulmus pumila(bark), Coliolus versicolor(fruit), and Curcuma longa(root and stem) contained over 70 mg/g of powder, DPPH radical scavenging activities($SC_{50}$, 50% scavenging concentration) of A. annua, I. paraguariensis, Pinus densiflora(leaf),S. marianum, U. pumila, and C. longa were $53.96{\pm}0.81\;ppm,\;24.61{\pm}2.12\;ppm,\;35.96{\pm}1.11\;ppm,\;57.46{\pm}2.13\;ppm,\;55.25{\pm}1.65\;ppm\;and\;12.99{\pm}1.67ppm$, respectively, while that of positive control(vitamin C) was $3.86{\pm}0.81\;ppm$. $SC_{50}$ values against superoxide anion radical of A. annua, Cinnamomum zeylanicum(bark), I. paraguariensis, Rubus coreanus(fruit and leaf), Morus alba(leaf), P. densiflora, S. marianum, U. pumila, C. versicolor, C. longa, Perilla frutescens var. acuta(leaf), and H. sabdariffa(leaf and newer) were $53.21{\pm}1.83ppm,\;50.12{\pm}2.12ppm,\;5.59{\pm}0.84ppm,\;41.60{\pm}8.93ppm,\;20.19{\pm}0.97ppm,\;15.19{\pm}1.66ppm,\;21.20{\pm}1.88ppm,\;15.71{\pm}0.91ppm,\;55.48{\pm}2.42ppm,\;52.12{\pm}2.44ppm,\;23.80{\pm}1.98ppm\;and\;11.14{\pm}0.51ppm$, respectively($SC_{50}$ value of vitamin C: $9.61{\pm}0.93ppm$). In particular, both 1 paraguariensis and P. densiflora had high content of phenolics as well as high scavenging activities of DPPH radical and superoxide anion radical. Consequently, above two commercial extracts may be useful as a source of antioxidative nutraceutics.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2017

Objectives : Mori Radicis Cortex (MRC), the root epidermis of Morus alba L., has been traditionally used to treat lung-related diseases in Korean Medicine. The common of MRC is Mulberry bark Morus bark, and it's pharmaceutical properties and taste are known as sweet and cold, and it promotes urination and reduce edema by reducing heat from the lungs and soothe asthma. In the present study, anti-apoptotic mechanism of MRC in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in mice. Methods : Two-hundred grams of MRC was extracted with methanol at room temperature for 5 days, and this was repeated one time. After filtration, the methanol was removed using vacuum evaporator, then stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ until use. C57BL/6 male mice were housed in an environment with controlled humidity, temperature, and light cycle. In order to determine beneficial effects of MRC on ischemia induced brain damage, infarct volume, neurological deficit scores, activities of several apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-8, -9, Bcl-xL in MCAO-induced brains of mice were analyzed. Mice in MRC-treated groups were orally administered 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg of body weight for three consecutive days before commencing the MCAO procedure. Results : Pre-treatment of MRC significantly reduced infarct volume in MCAO subjected mice applied with 300 mg/kg of MRC methanol extract, and MRC effectively inhibited Bcl-xL reduction and caspase-9 activation caused by MCAO-induced brain damage. Conclusions : MRC showed neuro-protective effects by regulating apoptosis-related protein signals, and it can be a potential candidate for the therapy of ischemia-induced brain damage.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2018

Objectives: Despite a rise of an interest in tooth whitening, diverse problems are being caused in case of hydrogen peroxide that is being used as a tooth bleaching agent. Thus, the aim was to examine tooth whitening effectiveness using natural products as a plan for supplementing this. Methods: As a result of having measured a tooth color through using VITA Easyshade V after having developed toothpaste with the application of extracts such as Citrus Peels, Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Root Bark, strawberry, and lemon, and then having used it for 10 weeks, they are as follows. Both upper and lower 6 anteriors mostly got brighter. Results: A statistically significant difference was shown especially in the right canine (p=0.015), in the right central incisor (p=0.007), and in the left central incisor (p<0.001). In consequence of having measured a color change, the tooth got brighter gradually in the higher extract content and in the lengthier use time. In case of canine, it got less bright compared to other teeth. In the outcome of evaluating sensuality, most of the questions were indicated to be high in case of using a whitening toothpaste for 10 weeks. But in what "there is no stickiness in the mouth, the stickiness was more felt in the use up to 5 weeks, but was improved in 10 weeks. Conclusions: The bleaching effectiveness was proved by developing a toothpaste with the application of natural extracts. A short-term effect cannot be seen like a whitening agent of using hydrogen peroxide. But there is a continuous effect in consideration of tooth-brushing more than 3 times a day.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.242-242
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• 1994

Cortex mori (Morus alba L.), the root bark of mulberry tree, has been used as an antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Cortex mori could inhibit the ovalbumin (OA) -induced late asthmatic reaction in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were sensitized by two exposures to an aerosol of OA(1.0%) and then challenged with aerosolized antigen(2.0%), The animals were pretreated by three inhalations of the aerosoled Cortex mori either before antigen sensitization or cahllenge. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and peripheral blood were collected at 17 hours after OA challenge. The cell populations in BALF and peripheral blood were examined to determine the changes of the relative proportions of eosinophils,neutrophils and mononuclear cells etc. Beta-glucuronidase activity in BALF was measured to evaluate the alveolar macrophage activation. OA-induced histamine release from guinea pig peritoneal fluid cells was measured by radioisotope enzymatic asssay. Results were as follows. The number of eosinophils, neutriphils and lymphocytes recovered in BALF were significantly increased in the 17h following aerosol challenge with OA. Among them, eosinophil and neutriphils were decreased remarkably in group that had been preinhalated with Cortex mori. The number of lymphocytes in BALF were not decreased in group pretreated with CM before sensitization but decreased in Group pretreated with CM before challenge. After OA challenge, the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood were markedly increased, but Cortex mori inhibited significantly the OA-induced eosinophilia. Beta-glucuronidase activity in the supernatants of BALF were significantly increased in the 17h following aerosol challenge with OA, however, pretreatment of Cortex mori had no influence on Beta-glucuronidase activity, suggesting that Cortex mori had no inhibitory effect on OA-induced alveolar macrophage activation. Cortex mori inhibited the OA-induced histamine release from guinea pig peritoneal fluid cells. From the above results, it is suggested that Cortex mori contains some substances with an activity to inhibit the the OA-induced late phase reaction of the bronchial asthma in guinea pigs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 2002

The water extract from the root bark of Cortex Mori (CM, Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), a mulberry tree, has been known in Chinese traditional medicine to have antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity of CM against tumor cells and its mechanism was examined . CM exhibited cytotoxic activity on K-562, B38O human leukemia cells and B16 mouse melanoma cells at concentrations of > 1 mg/ml. A DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and nuclear condensation assay showed that those cells exposed to CM underwent apoptosis. The water extract of Scutellarie Radix (SR) was used as a negative control and showed no cytotoxicity in those cells. The flow cytometric profiles of the CM-treated cells were also indicative of apoptosis. However, they did not appear to exert the G1 arrest, which is observed in other tubulin inhibitor agents such as vincristine, taxol. The protein-binding test using Biacore and a microtubule assembly-disassembly assay provided evidence showing that CM bound to the tubulins resulting in 3 markets inhibition of the assembly, but not the disassembly of microtubules. The possible nonspecific effect of the CM extract could be excluded due to the results using SR, which did not affect the assembly process. Overall, the water extract of CM induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting microtubule assembly.