Morus alba
White mulberry
Morus alba, commonly known as the White Mulberry, is a versatile deciduous tree prized for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Historically used in traditional medicine, its leaves and berries offer potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic benefits, making it a vital botanical resource for supporting metabolic health and wellness.
- Scientific name: Morus alba
- Family: Moraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Morus alba, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Its taxonomic journey concludes in the genus Morus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Moraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Morus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Morus alba, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Dhivehi, it is referred to as ތޫތު, while in Chinese, it is widely called 白桑 (zh-hans, zh-cn, zh-hk, zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| dv | ތޫތު | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 白桑 | Wikidata |
| pl | Morwa biała | Wikidata |
| qu | Yuraq murira | Wikidata |
| fr | mûrier blanc | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within the territories of Denmark and Sweden. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also documented throughout Germany. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the regions of Austria and the Czechia-Slovakia area. These specific locations highlight the varied geographical footprint of Morus alba.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Bulgaria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Morus alba, commonly known as the white mulberry, possesses various components that are utilized for their medicinal properties. The leaves (or individual leaf specimens) are widely used in traditional medicine to help manage blood sugar levels and support cardiovascular health. The fruits are not only nutritious but also contain antioxidants that contribute to overall wellness. Furthermore, the therapeutic profile of the plant extends to its underground structures, where both the roots and the root bark are harvested to treat ailments such as inflammation, fever, and digestive issues.- Total parts
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 48
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| root bark | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| leaf | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| fruits | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| roots | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| branches | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| white mulberry extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root-barks | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Morus alba has 172 reported phytochemicals identified across 274 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, 1-deoxynojirimycin, anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, morusin.
- Total chemicals
- 172
- Scientific sources
- 274
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 22 | ★★★★★ |
| 1-deoxynojirimycin | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| anthocyanins | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| morusin | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| DNJ | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| astragalin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| isoquercitrin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| rutin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| quercetin | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
Activities
Morus alba has 29 reported activities identified across 70 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Anthelmintic.
- Total activities
- 29
- Scientific sources
- 70
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| Hypoglycemic | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Hypolipidemic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Alpha-Glucosidase-Inhibitor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Morus alba has 114 reported medicinal uses identified across 181 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include obesity, inflammation, antidiabetic, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemic.
- Total uses
- 114
- Scientific sources
- 181
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| obesity | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| inflammation | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| hyperglycemia | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| hypoglycemic | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| type 2 diabetes | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| blood glucose | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |