Lipolytic effect of novel extracts from mulberry (Morus alba) leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris in the primary adipocytes derived from SD rats

Mulberry leaf and its effects against obesity: A systematic review of phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms and applications

BACKGROUND

Obesity and hyperlipidemia can induce a variety of diseases, and have become major health problems worldwide. How to effectively prevent and control obesity has become one of the hot-spots of contemporary research. Mulberry leaf is the dried leaf of Morus alba L., which is approved by the Ministry of Health as a "homology of medicine and food", rich in diverse active constituents and with a variety of health effects including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemia activities.

PURPOSE

The review attempts to summarize and provide the molecular basis, mechanism, safety and products for further exploration and application of mulberry leaf on the treatment on the control of weight gain and obesity.

METHODS

This review is conducted by using ScienceDirect, PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

RESULTS

Based on the research progress of domestic and foreign scholars, the effective phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms and product applications of mulberry leaf in the prevention and treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases were summarized.

CONCLUSION

Mulberry leaf has excellent medicinal and health care value in obesity treatment. However, its pharmacodynamic substance basis and molecular mechanisms need to be further studied.

Mulberry plant as a source of functional food with therapeutic and nutritional applications: A review

Medicinal plants from the family Moraceae have diverse applications in agriculture, cosmetics, food, and the pharmaceutical industry. Their extensive spectrum of pharmacological activity for treating numerous inflammatory illnesses, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and gastrointestinal problems reflects their biological and therapeutic value. This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms related to the biological implications of mulberry extracts, fractions, and isolated bioactive compounds from different parts in various health-related ailments. Additionally, the food industry and animal nutrition applications are summarized. Phytochemicals such as steroids, saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds including terpenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins are found in this medicinal plant. The aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic extracts, as well as bioactive compounds, have anti-oxidative, hypoglycemic, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-mutagenic, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, immune-modulatory, cardioprotective, and skin protecting activities. Mulberry supplementation in food products improves the stability of phenolics, sensory properties, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial properties. Mulberry leaves in animal feed increase the nutrient digestibility, growth parameters, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review summarized the in vivo and in vitro biological activities of the mulberry and isolated constituents in various health conditions. In addition, the food uses such as antioxidant potential, antimicrobial, and physicochemical properties were discussed. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed mulberry as a significant protein source and its flavonoids as potential animal foliage.

Phytochemical characterization of Morus nigra fruit ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract for its cardioprotective potential

The current work investigated the phytochemical profile of ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extract of Morus nigra (M. nigra) fruit. FTIR analysis of M. nigra fruit extract revealed the presence of alcohols (O-H), alkanes (C-H stretch), alkenes (C=C), and alkynes (C≡C). The HPLC analysis quantified the quercetin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, and kaempferol. Furthermore, the cardioprotective activity of ethanolic extract of M. nigra fruit was investigated. Cholesterol supplementation (2%) in the daily diet and exposure to cigarette smoke (2 cigarettes twice a day) were to induce hypertension in rats. The experimental animals were categorized into four groups: G0 (negative control), G1 (positive control), G2 (standard drug), and G3 (M. nigra fruit). The fruit extract administration at 300 mg/kg BW/day orally for 2 months significantly (p < .001) enhanced the activities of serum and cardiac tissue antioxidants in hypertensive rats. Meanwhile, the fruit extract reduced the elevated serum lipid profile while significantly increasing the high-density lipoproteins in G3 than G1 and G2. The increase in blood pressure, liver transaminases, and serum lactate dehydrogenase also reduced significantly in M. nigra fruit extract-treated rats. Histopathological findings revealed mild normalization of cardiac myocytes with central nuclei, branching, and cross-striations. Consequently, the M. nigra fruit extract exerted the cardioprotective potential via increasing the antioxidant enzymes and reducing the lipids, lactate dehydrogenase, liver transaminases, and blood pressure. The therapeutic potential of M. nigra fruit can be due to flavonols and phenolic acids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present work quantified the Morus nigra fruit phytochemicals and its significant role in reducing lipid markers and blood pressure and improving antioxidant status in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and exposed to cigarette smoke. Conclusively, the inclusion of M. nigra fruit in daily diet could improve the cardiac health of the individuals. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of M. nigra fruit and its isolated constituents in modulating the gene expression against cardiac problems can explore after clinical trials and standardization in higher animals.

Effects of Feeding Fermented Mulberry Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Slaughter Performance, and Meat Quality in Chicken Broilers

Simple Summary

Mulberry leaf is widely used in ruminants feeding, such as sheep, beef cattle, and dairy calves. Due to the high content of crude fiber in mature mulberry leaves and branches and the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as tannin, excessive addition will affect the production performance and health of livestock and poultry, and limit its large-scale application in animal production to a certain extent. The disadvantages of woody plants can be improved by microbial fermentation, which can reduce the content of anti-nutritional factors, and increase the content of peptides and amino acids, probiotics, and bioactive components. In this study, Lactobacillus, Saccharomycetes, and Bacillus subtilis were used to make mixed strains to ferment mulberry leaf powder, and different proportions were added to the diet of yellow feathered chicken broilers. The results showed that the addition of fermented mulberry leaf in the diet could improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and then improve its growth performance, and increase the contents of inosine monophosphate (IMP), total amino acids, essential amino acids, and delicious amino acids in breast and thigh muscle, and improved polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential fatty acids in breast muscle; this also has a positive effect on improving meat quality.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding fermented mulberry leaf powder (FMLP) on growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 360 1-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups. The control group was fed basal diet (CON), 3% FMLP, 6% FMLP, 9% FMLP, and 3% unfermented mulberry leaf powder. The (MLP) group was fed basal diet supplemented with 3%, 6%, 9% fermented mulberry leaf powder, and 3% MLP, respectively. The experiment lasted for 56 days, with 1–28 days as the starter phase and 29–56 days as the grower phase. The results on the growth performance showed that diets supplemented with 3% FMLP significantly increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of broilers, enhanced the activity of intestinal amylase and digestibility of dry matter and crude protein, improved the average daily gain (ADG), and decreased the feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group diet, the 3% FMLP group diet significantly increased the breast muscle yield (p < 0.05), reduced the abdominal fat ratio (0.1 < p < 0.05), and improved the slaughter performance of broilers. The 3% MLP group diet increased the shear force of breast muscle (p < 0.05) and thigh muscle of broilers compared to the control group, and adding FMLP could reverse the above results. Additionally, relative to the control group, FMLP supplementation improved the contents of inosine monophosphate (IMP), total amino acids (TAA), essential amino acids (EAA), and delicious amino acids (DAA) in breast and thigh muscle, and improved polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and essential fatty acids (EFA) in breast muscle; the 6% and 9% FMLP groups showed preferably such effects (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of FMLP can improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and then improve the growth performance of broilers; it also has a positive effect on improving slaughter performance and meat quality.

Fermented mulberry (Morus alba) leaves suppress high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis through amelioration of the inflammatory response and autophagy pathway

BACKGROUND

A novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris (EMfC) is reported to exert anti-obesity activity, although their molecular mechanism during hepatic steatosis has not verified.

METHODS

To investigate the role of inflammation and autophagy during the anti-hepatic steatosis effects of EMfC, we measured alterations in the key parameters for inflammatory response and autophagy pathway in liver tissues of the high fat diet (HFD) treated C57BL/6N mice after exposure to EMfC for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Significant anti-hepatic steatosis effects, including decreased number of lipid droplets and expression of Klf2 mRNA, were detected in the liver of the HFD + EMfC treated group. The levels of mast cell infiltration, expression of two inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2), and the MAPK signaling pathway were remarkably decreased in the liver of HFD + EMfC treated group as compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Furthermore, a similar inhibitory effect was measured for the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB. The expression level of members in the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway (a central regulator in autophagy) was recovered after treatment with EMfC, and autophagy-related proteins (Beclin and LC3-II) were remarkably decreased in the HFD + EMfC treated group compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Moreover, the HFD + EMfC treated group showed decreased transcript levels of autophagy-regulated genes including Atg4b, Atg5, Atg7 and Atg12.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, findings of the present study provide novel evidences that the anti-hepatic steatosis of EMfC is tightly linked to the regulation of the inflammatory response and autophagy pathway in the liver tissue of HFD-induced obesity mice.

Dietary supplementation of Morus nigra L. leaves decrease fat mass partially through elevating leptin-stimulated lipolysis in pig model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mulberry leaves are the dry leaves of Morus nigra L. trees, which are widely cultivated in central and southern China. Mulberry has a long history of medicinal use, such as anti-stress, lowering blood glucose and anti-obesity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Explore the effects of mulberry leaves on fat deposition as well as the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total of 48 fattening pigs weighing about 70 kg were randomly allotted to normal diet or die supplemented with 5% (w/w) mulberry leave powder. Changes of fat mass, indicated by backfat thickness was measured with Piggyback tester, blood triglyceride and cholesterol were tested using commercial biochemical kits, serum hormones were estimated by ELISA, and leptin-related signaling activity were assessed using western-blot.

RESULTS

Supplementation with Mulberry leaf feed (MF) significantly reduced serum triglyceride and free cholesterol concentrations and increased the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), while serum glucose and free fatty acids remained unchanged. Dietary MF resulted in a significant reduction in the size of adipocytes and backfat thickness (P < 0.05). Accordingly, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in backfat was significantly up-regulated and fatty acid synthase (FAS) was down-regulated by MF supplementation (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, MF supplementation significantly elevated circulating leptin and adiponectin without influencing serum insulin and glucocorticoid. Moreover, significantly higher leptin receptor (Leptin-R) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) were detected in MF-supplemented pigs, suggesting an enhanced leptin signaling induced by MF in the subcutaneous fat.

CONCLUSIONS

Mulberry leaves have obvious anti-obesity effects, providing a theoretical basis for the development of mulberry leaves as a drug against obesity.

Morus alba (mulberry), a natural potent compound in management of obesity

Obesity is defined as body mass index, higher than 30 kg/m², which are associated with diverse diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary diseases, certain cancers, osteoarthritis and dyslipidemia. The subject of this review article was to evaluate the potency of Morus alba or "mulberry" as natural potent anti-obesity agent in management of obesity. For writing this manuscript, we searched in all accessible international databases, electronic resources (PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley and Google), unpublished data (R&D reports, thesis and dissertation). The inhibitory effects of mulberry on digestive enzymes and adipocyte differentiation, and its stimulatory effects on energy expenditures, and lipid metabolism are responsible mechanisms for management of obesity in obese patients. Furthermore, the results of these preclinical studies and its related mechanisms should be evaluated in large clinical trials.

Anti-obesity effect in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice: Study of a novel extract from mulberry (Morus alba) leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris

The therapeutic effects of mulberry (Morus alba) leaves on lipid metabolism, including lipogenesis, lipolysis and hyperlipidemia are widely known, although their fermented products are yet to be applied. To investigate the therapeutic effects of a novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris (EMfC) on lipid metabolism, the lipid profile of serum, lipid accumulation, lipolytic activity and lipogenesis regulation were measured in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese C57BL/6 mice treated with EMfC for 12 weeks. Briefly, the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose significantly decreased in the serum of the HFD+EMfC treated group when compared with the HFD+Vehicle treated group, while the levels of high-density lipoprotein increased in the HFD+EMfC group. The amount of abdominal fat and the size of adipocytes were significantly lower in the HFD+EMfC treated group when compared with the HFD+Vehicle treated group. The weight and number of lipid droplets of liver tissue exhibited a similar decrease. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ for adipogenesis as well as adipocyte protein 2 and Fas cell surface death receptor for lipogenesis reduced following EMfC treatment for 12 weeks. Phosphorylation of perilipin and hormone-sensitive lipase, and in the adipose triglyceride lipase expression showed a significant increase in the HFD+EMfC treated group. These results indicated that EMfC may prevent fat accumulation in the HFD-induced obese C57BL/6 mice through the inhibition of lipogenesis and by stimulating lipolysis. Thus, the results provide evidence for the potential use of EMfC as an anti-obesity complex in the treatment of obesity.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice: Efficacy of a novel extract from mulberry (Morus alba) leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris

A few clues about correlation between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mulberry (Morus alba) leaves were investigated in only the experimental autoimmune myocarditis and streptozotocin-induced diabetes. To investigate whether a novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris (EMfC) could suppress ER in fatty liver, alterations in the key parameters for ER stress response were measured in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese C57L/6 mice treated with EMfC for 12 weeks. The area of adipocytes in the liver section were significantly decreased in the HFD+EMfC treated group as compared to the HFD+Vehicle treated group, while their level was higher in HFD+Vehicle treated group than No treated group. The level of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 beta (IRE1α) phosphorylation and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) expression were remarkably enhanced in the HFD+Vehicle treated group. However, their levels were restored in the HFD+EMfC treated group, although some differences were detected in the decrease rate. Similar recovery was observed on the ER stress-induced apoptosis. The level of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were decreased in the HFD+EMfC and HFD+orlistat (OT) treated group compared to the HFD+Vehicle treated group. The results of the present study therefore provide first evidence that EMfC with the anti-obesity effects can be suppressed ER stress and ER stress-induced apoptosis in the hepatic steatosis of HFD-induced obesity model.

Essential role of Ahnak in adipocyte differentiation leading to the transcriptional regulation of Bmpr1α expression

The role of Ahnak in obesity has been reported previously. Loss of Ahnak leads to decreased Bmp4/Smad1 signaling, resulting in the downregulation of adipocyte differentiation. However, the biological significance of Ahnak remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that Ahnak-mediated impaired adipogenesis results in decreased Bmpr1α transcriptional expression. To confirm this, Ahnak siRNA was used to knock-down Ahnak in C3H10T1/2 and primary stromal vascular fraction cells. Ahnak siRNA transfected cells showed suppression of Bmpr1α expression and decreased BMP4/ Bmpr1α signaling. The differential adipogenesis was further confirmed by knock-down of Bmpr1α in C3H10T1/2 cells, which resulted in reduced adipogenesis. Moreover, stable Ahnak knock-out C3H10T1/2 cells stably transfected with Ahnak CRISPR/Cas9 plasmid suppressed expression of Bmpr1α and prevented differentiation into adipocytes. Furthermore, we developed immortalized pre-adipocytes from wild-type or Ahnak Knock-out mice's stromal vascular fraction (SVF) to confirm the function of Ahnak in pre-adipocyte transition. Immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells showed lower level of Bmpr1α expression, evidence by their impaired BMP4/Bmpr1α signaling. Upon adipogenic induction, immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells exhibited a marked decrease in adipocyte differentiation compared with immortalized wild-type pre-adipocytes. Furthermore, over-expression of Bmpr1α restored the adipogenic activity of Ahnak knock-out C3H10T1/2 cells and immortalized Ahnak knock-out SVF cells. Our data reveal the missing link in Ahnak-mediated adipose tissue remodeling and suggest that precise regulation of Ahnak in adipose tissue might have a therapeutic advantage for metabolic disease treatment.