mulberries

Novel active compounds and the anti-diabetic mechanism of mulberry leavesMulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves have long been considered beneficial in traditional Chinese medicine to treat infectious and internal diseases. Recently studies have discovered that the mulberry leaf’s total flavonoids (MLF) display excellent hypoglycemia properties. However, the active ingredients and their molecular mechanisms are still uncharacterized. In this study, we explored the hypoglycemic effects of MLF and mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLP) on ob/ob mice, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), compared with Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloid (RMA). Network pharmacology was employed to identify the potential available targets and active compounds of MLF and RMA against hyperglycemia. Molecular docking, an insulin-resistant cell model and qPCR were employed to verify the antidiabetic activity of the critical compounds and the gene expression profiles of the top molecular targets. Here, the results showed that MLF and MLP improved glucose uptake in insulin-resistant hepatocytes. MLF, MLP and RMA alleviated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in ob/ob mice. Unlike MLF and MLP, RMA administration did not influence the accumulation of intrahepatic lipids. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that morusin, kuwanon C and morusyunnansin L are the main active compounds of MLF and that they amend insulin resistance and glycemia via the PI3K- Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis pathways, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Moreover, 1-deoxyn...