Effect of mulberry ( Morus indica L.) therapy on plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background: Mulberry ( Morus indica L.) is non-toxic natural therapeutic agent shown to possess hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and diuretic properties. Methods: The hypoglycemic effect of the mulberry leaves was evaluated by comparing the anti-diabetic activity of the standard drug, glibenclamide. A total of 24 type 2 diabetic patents were divided randomly into two treatment groups: the mulberry agent and glibenclamide, for 30 days. Serum and erythrocyte membrane lipid profiles of the patients were analyzed before and after the treatments. Results: Patients with mulberry therapy significantly improved their glycemic control vs. glibenclamide treatment. The results from pre- and post-treatment analysis of blood plasma and urine samples showed that the mulberry therapy significantly decreased the concentration of serum total cholesterol (12%, p<0.01), triglycerides (16%, p<0.01), plasma free fatty acids (12%, p<0.01), LDL-cholesterol (23%, p<0.01), VLDL-cholesterol (17%, p<0.01), plasma peroxides (25%, p<0.01), urinary peroxides (55%, p<0.01), while increasing HDL-cholesterol (18%, p<0.01). Although the patients with glibenclamide treatment showed marginal improvement in glycemic control, the changes in the lipid profile were not statistically significant except for triglycerides (10%, p<0.05), plasma peroxides (15%, p<0.05), and urinary peroxides (19%, p<0.05). Both treatments displayed no apparent effect on the concentrations of the glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A 1c) in diabetic patients. However, the fasting blood glucose concentrations of diabetic patients were significantly reduced by the mulberry therapy. Conclusions: Mulberry therapy exhibits potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic patients.