If you are suffer from high blood sugar or simply want to balance your energy levels, mulberry leaves are a traditional hypoglycemic remedy used to lower blood glucose and support metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Mulberry is not intended to be a replacement for medical care, and you are advised to consult with a registered medical herbalist and a doctor before purchasing mulberry leaf products.
History
Mulberry is a popular tree cultivated around the world for its edible fruits and is used in herbal medicine in Europe, North America, Japan, Korea and India. The leaves are a traditional herbal remedy for internal cleansing, blood sugar balance, healing wounds and healing infections. Sixteenth-century herbalist Dr Culpeper recommended all parts of the mulberry tree: the bark for intestinal worms, the fruit for women's reproductive health and the leaves for bleeding gums, wounds and nosebleeds. According to Plants for a Future Database, homeopathic preparations of black mulberry leaves are used to treat diabetes.
Animal Research
Studies using mulberry extract on animals have shown beneficial effects on blood sugar levels. According to a review of research published in "Archives of Medical Science" in 2008, researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran pooled together results from 31 different studies investigating the use of anti-diabetic plants in animals. Both white mulberry and black mulberry species were found to be significantly effective in reducing blood glucose levels in animals, and researchers concluded more study is required to understand how these plants work in animals and humans.
Clinical Research
In a clinical trial published in "Diabetes Care" in 2007, researchers from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center Research Service studied the effects of mulberry extract on a small group of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Those who took mulberry extract alongside some sucrose had significantly lower blood sugar levels compared with a placebo group who just took the sucrose. Researchers concluded that mulberry extract likely works through inhibiting enzymes in the digestive tract, such as sucrase and amylase, which break down carbohydrates and sugars. By taking mulberry extract, your digestion and absorption of sugars is decreased, and your blood sugar will be more stable following a meal.
Safety and Toxicity
Mulberry leaves are considered safe and well tolerated by the majority of the population. According to a study published in "Pharmacognosy Magazine" in 2011, researchers from the University of the Philippines investigated the toxic effects of white mulberry leaves. Mulberry leaves were found to be nontoxic in all tests performed. Mulberry may interact with some drugs, so you are advised to check with your doctor first before combining it with prescribed medications.
References
- Plants for a Future Database: Black Mulberry
- "Culpeper's Complete Herbal"; Dr Culpeper; 1998 reprint
- "Archives of Medical Science"; A Systematic Review of Iranian Medicinal Plants useful in Diabetes Mellitus; Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar, et al.; 2008
- "Diabetes Care"; Influence of Mulberry Leaf Extract on the Blood Glucose and Breath Hydrogen Response to Ingestion of 75 g Sucrose by Type 2 Diabetic and Control Subjects; M. Mudra, et al.; 2007
- "Pharmacognosy Magazine"; Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Some Philippine Medicinal Plants; C. Chichioco-Hernandez, et al.; 2011
