Research progress on the hypoglycemic effect of mulberry leaves

Abstract

Mulberry leaf, as a traditional Chinese medicine with medicinal and food values, is nowadays widely used in the clinical treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Its active ingredients are mainly flavonoids, polysaccharides, alkaloids and other substances, which have good efficacy in regulating insulin secretion, hypoglycemia and lipid lowering. In recent years, a large number of experimental studies and some clinical studies have proved that mulberry leaf does have hypoglycemic effect, and it is widely available, easy to obtain and low in price. In this paper, we review the research progress on the mechanisms of mulberry leaf inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, promotion of insulin secretion, improvement of pancreatic islet function, promotion of glucose utilization by peripheral tissues, and enhancement of hepatic glycogen. It is expected to provide guidelines for in-depth research on the mechanism of action of mulberry leaves in regulating blood glucose and preventing diabetic complications, and to provide a basis and reference for the development and utilization of mulberry leaf resources.