Mulberry Leaf Research Articles

Larvacidal Activity of the Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaf Extract Against Larvae of Aedes aegypti

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is one of the major public health problems in Indonesia. As the population density increases, the number of sufferers increases. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for the disease. The absence of drugs make the best prevention effort by eradicating mosquito nests, killing larvae and adult mosquitoes. Mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) may be used as larvacides in the presence of chemical compounds of flavonoids and saponins that inhibit feeding and disrupt the process of insect metabolism. The purpose of this research has to determine the effect of mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.), to determine the larvicide effect of mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.) and to determine the concentration of mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.) which is optimal in killing third instar Aedes aegypti larvae. This research used Randomized Design Group (RDG) method with treatment consisted 4 concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%), negative control and positive control (ABATE) with 6 repetitions. The results of probit analysis showed that LC50 values were 1.124% and LC90 was 4.413%. From the one way ANOVA test at each concentration of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1%, the F count result is 208.331, the value was greater than F table which is 2.53 and the significant value is 0.000 (sig <0.05) then mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.) has a affected to eliminated of Aedes aegypti larvae. Conclusion from the results of the one way ANOVA test of mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.) was affected to eliminated third instar Aedes aegypti larvae

Multi-frequency ultrasound-assisted cellulase extraction of protein from mulberry leaf: Kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural properties

The effects of different extraction methods (traditional extraction, ultrasound extraction, cellulase extraction, and ultrasound-assisted cellulase extraction) on the yield of mulberry leaf protein (MLP) were investigated, and the results revealed that multi-frequency ultrasound-assisted cellulase extraction was the most efficient extraction method. The mechanism of the synergistic extraction method used to efficiently extract protein from mulberry leave was investigated, focusing on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the enzymatic process. The results revealed that kinetic parameters KM decreased by 14.07% and kA increased by 5.02%, and the thermodynamic parameters Ea, ΔH, and ΔS decreased by 44.81%, 48.41%, and 21.12 %, respectively, following the process of multi-frequency ultrasound (MFU) pretreatment. The spectral analysis with fluorescence spectra manifested that ultrasound exposed hydrophobic groups and induced molecular unfolding of MLP. Atomic force microscope showed that ultrasound decreased particle size while increasing flexibility of MLP. The effect of ultrasound increases the binding frequency of cellulase and substrates, resulting in greater affinity between the two and promoting the solubilization of MLP. This study provides a theoretical basis to improve the application prospects of MLP.

Antioxidant Activities, Phenolic Compounds, and Sensory Acceptability of Kombucha-Fermented Beverages from Bamboo Leaf and Mulberry Leaf.

Kombucha is traditional drink made from the fermentation of a black tea infusion, and is believed to offer a variety of health benefits. Recently, exploring kombucha made from alternative substrates has become a research hotspot. In this paper, two novel kombucha beverages were produced with bamboo leaf or mulberry leaf for the first time. Moreover, the effects of fermentation with leaf residues (infusion plus residues) or without leaf residues (only infusion) on the antioxidant properties of kombucha were compared. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay, Folin-Ciocalteu method, and high-performance liquid chromatography were utilized to measure the antioxidant capacities, total phenolic contents, as well as some compound concentrations of the kombucha. The results showed that two types of kombucha had high antioxidant capacities. Moreover, kombucha fermented with bamboo leaf residues (infusion plus residues) significantly enhanced its antioxidant capabilities (maximum increase 83.6%), total phenolic content (maximum increase 99.2%), concentrations of some compounds (luteolin-6-C-glucoside and isovitexin), and sensory acceptability, compared to that without residues (only infusion). In addition, fermentation with leaf residues had no significant effect on mulberry leaf kombucha. Overall, the bamboo leaf was more suitable for making kombucha with residues, while the mulberry leaf kombucha was suitable for fermentation with or without residues.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Mulberry Leaf Powder on the Growth Performance, Lipid Metabolism Parameters, Immunity Indicators, and Gut Microbiota of Dogs.

Overfeeding and a lack of exercise are increasingly causing obesity in dogs, which has become a big problem threatening the health of dogs. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how dietary regulations can help to improve dogs' body conditions and minimize obesity. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary mulberry leaf powder (MLP) supplementation on the growth performance, lipid metabolism parameters, and gut microbiota of Chinese indigenous dogs. Fifteen Chinese indigenous dogs (6.34 ± 0.56 kg) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups and received either the control diet (CON), high-fat diet (HF), or high-fat diet containing 6% Mulberry leaf powder (MLP) for four weeks. The CON group received a basal diet, the HF group received a basal diet supplemented with 10% lard, and the MLP group received a basal diet supplemented with 10% lard and 6% MLP. The trial lasted for four weeks. The growth performance, lipid metabolism parameters, immune globulins, cytokines, and fecal microbiota were measured. Results showed that there was no significant difference in growth performance. The MLP group appeared to have decreased (p < 0.05) the serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apoliprotein-A1(APO-A1) in serum. The MLP group appeared to have higher (p < 0.05) serum immune globulin A (IgA) levels. UPGMA results showed that the MLP group was closer to the CON group than to the HF group. LEfSe analysis showed that dietary supplementation with MLP contributed to an alteration in the genus Alloprevotella, Sarcina, and species belonging to the Bacteroides and Lactobacillus genus. Overall, the dietary supplementation of 6% MLP can improve lipid metabolism conditions and immunity in high-fat-diet-fed dogs, and can alter the gut microbial composition of dogs.

Investigating the contribution of mulberry leaf Fu tea to ameliorating metabolic disorders and remodeling gut microbiota in diabetic mice

AbstractDysbiosis of the gut microbiota and metabolic disorders contributes to the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. Polyphenols reduce the risk of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by inhibiting α‐glucosidase. Mulberry leaf Fu tea (FM) is a kind of tea obtained by the fermentation of Eurotium cristatum, which is polyphenol‐enriched and has a distinctive aroma, but its antidiabetic mechanism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the polyphenols in the aqueous extract of FM through HRLC‐MS and verified its inhibitory effect on α‐glucosidase in vitro test and finally studied its effect on gut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in diabetic mice. The findings demonstrated that FM supplementation considerably altered gut microbiota abnormalities in diabetic mice, maintained the balance of microflora, encouraged the growth of beneficial microorganisms (Coriobacteriaceae UCG‐002, Dubosiella, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium), and increased levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. In conclusion, FM can regulate gut microbiota and SCFAs to ameliorate or alleviate T2DM caused by HFD‐STZ. Therefore, FM can also be used as postbiotics to improve T2DM.

Effect of mulberry leaf polysaccharides on the physicochemical, rheological, microstructure properties and in vitro starch digestibility of wheat starch during the freeze-thaw cycles

Temperature fluctuation damages the quality of starch-based foods, and the freeze-thaw cycle (FTC) can simulate this process. This study investigated how Mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLP) affect the freeze-thaw stability and digestibility of wheat starch (WS). During FTC, MLP reduced the syneresis and retarded the water migration of WS gel. Meanwhile, MLP delayed the recrystallization of starch, which reduced the enthalpy value and crystallinity of WS gel during FTC. The addition of MLP significantly reduced the hardness of WS gel. Furthermore, MLP could prevent the deterioration of the rheological characteristic and preserve the network structure of the WS gel. In addition, MLP boosted the resistant starch and decreased the fast-digesting starch content in the freeze-thaw gel. Our findings suggested that MLP could enhance the freeze-thaw stability of WS gel, decrease the starch digestibility, and be an effective component in improving the quality of wheat starch-based frozen food.

Medicinal parts of mulberry (leaf, twig, root bark, and fruit) and compounds thereof are excellent traditional Chinese medicines and foods for diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the main chronic diseases severely threatening human health, of which type 2 DM (T2DM) is the most common type. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of T2DM. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a medicinal and edible plant that is well known for its rich nutrition and medicinal values. The medicinal parts of mulberry include leaf, twig, root bark, and fruit, all of which have remarkable hypoglycemic effects. In this paper, the extracts and compounds with hypoglycemic effects from four medicinal parts of mulberry are reviewed. It is found that the hypoglycemic compounds in mulberry are mainly flavonoids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, stilbenes, and Diels-Alder compounds. Their mechanisms of action are mainly related to the regulation of lipid profiles and glucose metabolism, protection of pancreatic β-cells, promotion of insulin secretion, antioxidation, inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B and α-glycosidase activities. In addition, mulberry treatment could change intestinal microbiota of mice, which are associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. This review provides reference for further research and development of different medicinal parts of mulberry for the treatment of DM.

Mulberry leaves attenuate D-galactose-induced aging in vivo and in vitro.

Mulberry leaves contain many bioactive compounds and have been widely used in traditional medicines and functional foods for prevention and treatment of age-related diseases, such as diabetes, cognitive impairment and obesity-mediated liver cancer. Aging has an irreversible negative impact on human health for many years, even decades, before death, which is a social and economic burden on society. The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-aging effects of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) in vivo and in vitro. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as a model organism to observe the effects of different concentrations of MLE (1, 2, 4, 8 mg/mL) on nematodes' healthy lifespan, reproductive capacity, locomotion, stress resistance, and antioxidation. In addition, D-galactose (D-gal) induced liver aging in mice and L-02 cells were established. The antioxidant and anti-aging effects of MLE were evaluated by body weight, organ indexes, malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal). Besides, the expressions of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α and Nrf2-Keap1 were detected by Western blotting. MLE could significantly prolonged nematodes' average life span and improved most physiological indicators related to aging of C. elegans. Moreover, Treatment with MLE ameliorated the decreased body weight and organ index (weight of organ/body weight) in model mice, and protected against oxidative stress in mice and liver cells, in a dose-dependent manner, up-regulating T-SOD and T-AOC, while reducing ROS and MDA levels. MLE decreased both liver and cell levels of AST and ALT, and enhanced the mitochondrial membrane potential. MLE activated the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathways, participated in mitochondrial biosynthesis and oxidative metabolism and delayed D-gal-induced aging. MLE promoted the accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus, indicating that the improved oxidative stress response was mediated by the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway in vivo and in vitro. MLE appeared to have great potential for stimulating the oxidative stress response and attenuating the aging process of in vivo and in vitro, and provide a novel health-promoting resource against aging and aging-related diseases.

Thin Layer Chromatographic Analysis of Flavonoid in Mulberry Leaf Extract

Abstract: Morus alba L., also known as white mulberry, has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health conditions. The leaves of the plant are rich in polyphenols such as quercetin 3-(- malonylglucoside), rutin, isoquercitin, and cyaniding-3-rutinoside apigenin, luteolin, caffeic acid, gallic acid and umbelliferone, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol, and flavonoids. In the present study, qualitative tests of leaf extracts showed significant indication of the presence of Flavonoids were found to be present in the leaf extracts, with a maximum concentration by using methanol and ethanol solvents. Using thin layer chromatography (TLC) profiling of plant extracts gives an impressive result that directing towards the existence of phytoconstituents. In addition, the alcoholic extracts for mulberry leaves contain a higher content of bioactive compounds, which can be used for further researches on this plant.

Studies on influence of various stages of mulberry leaf in the growth and cocoonic parameters of silkworm Bombyx mori (L.)

The objective of this work was to determine the effects of different stages of mulberry leaves on growth performance of treated larvae of Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae) and characters of the resulted cocoons were evaluated. Results showed that the food consumption rate and assimilation rate were greatest for larvae fed on tender and over matured mulberry leaves as compared to larvae fed on mature leaves. Assimilation and conversion efficiencies were very high in the larvae grown on matured mulberry leaves (0.189 and 1.99% respectively). Moreover, the larvae fed on matured mulberry leaves showed higher growth rate, cocoon weight and shell ratio. Among the three different growth stages of leaves, the matured leaves were found to be the best food for final instar larvae of Bombyx mori L. which promotes maximum larval growth and it gains to quality cocoon and raw silk production.

Pharmacological and Pathological Effects of Mulberry Leaf Extract on the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Mice.

This study investigated the pharmacological and pathological effects of aqueous mulberry leaf extract on type 1 diabetes mellitus mice induced with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Diabetic mice were randomized into six groups: control (normal group), model, metformin-treated mice, and high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose mulberry. The mulberry-treated mice were divided into high-, medium-, and low-dose groups based on the various doses of aqueous mulberry leaf extract during gavage. The efficacy of the six-week intervention was evaluated by measuring levels of fasting plasma glucose, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and recording body weight. Results revealed that mulberry leaf extract exhibited an ideal hypoglycemic effect, and the high-dose group was the most affected. Histology analysis, glycogen staining and apoptosis detection were used to study the extract's effects on the liver, kidney, and pancreatic cells of diabetic mice, enabling the assessment of its effectiveness and complications on a clinical and theoretical basis. It was shown that a certain concentration of aqueous mulberry leaf extract repaired the islet cells of type 1 diabetes mellitus mice, promoting normal insulin secretion. Herein, it was confirmed that mulberry leaf could be used to develop new hypoglycemic drugs or functional health food with broad applicability.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Obtained from Eggshell via the Hydrothermal Process and the Precipitation Method

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a major component of the inorganic minerals in the hard tissues of humans and has been widely used as a biomedical ceramic material in orthopedic and dentistry applications. Because human bone contains several impurities, including carbonates, chlorides, fluorides, magnesium, and strontium, human bone minerals differ from stoichiometric HA. Additionally, natural bone is composed of nano-sized HA, and the nanoscale particles exhibit a high level of biological activity. In this paper, HA is prepared via the hydrothermal process because its reaction conditions are easy to control and it has been shown to be quite feasible for large-scale production. Therefore, the hydrothermal process is an effective and convenient method for the preparation of HA. Furthermore, eggshell is adopted as a source of calcium, and mulberry leaf extract is selectively added to synthesize HA. The eggshell accounts for 11% of the total weight of a whole egg, and it consists of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, and organic matter. Eggshell contains a variety of trace elements, such as magnesium and strontium, making the composition of the synthesized HA similar to that of the human skeleton. These trace elements exert considerable benefits for bone growth. Moreover, the use of eggshell as a raw material can permit the recycling of biowaste and a reduction in process costs. The purpose of this study is to prepare HA powder via the hydrothermal method and to explore the effects of hydrothermal conditions on the structure and properties of the synthesized HA. The room-temperature precipitation method is used for the control group. Furthermore, the results of an immersion test in simulated body fluid confirm that the as-prepared HA exhibits good apatite-forming bioactivity, which is an essential requirement for artificial materials to bond to living bones in the living body and promote bone regeneration. In particular, it is confirmed that the HA synthesized with the addition of the mulberry leaf extract exhibits good in vitro biocompatibility. The morphology, crystallite size, and composition of the carbonated nano-HA obtained herein are similar to those of natural bones. The carbonated nano-HA appears to be an excellent material for bioresorbable bone substitutes or drug delivery. Therefore, the nano-HA powder prepared in this study has great potential in biomedical applications.

Metabolome and Transcriptome Integrated Analysis of Mulberry Leaves for Insight into the Formation of Bitter Taste.

Mulberry leaves are excellent for health care, confirmed as a 'drug homologous food' by the Ministry of Health, China. The bitter taste of mulberry leaves is one of the main problems that hinders the development of the mulberry food industry. The bitter, unique taste of mulberry leaves is difficult to eliminate by post-processing. In this study, the bitter metabolites in mulberry leaves were identified as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, coumarins and L-amino acids by a combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome of mulberry leaves. The analysis of the differential metabolites showed that the bitter metabolites were diverse and the sugar metabolites were down-regulated, indicating that the bitter taste of mulberry leaves was a comprehensive reflection of various bitter-related metabolites. Multi-omics analysis showed that the main metabolic pathway related to bitter taste in mulberry leaves was galactose metabolism, indicating that soluble sugar was one of the main factors of bitter taste difference in mulberry leaves. Bitter metabolites play a great role in the medicinal and functional food of mulberry leaves, but the saccharides in mulberry leaves have a great influence on the bitter taste of mulberry. Therefore, we propose to retain bitter metabolites with drug activity in mulberry leaves and increase the content of sugars to improve the bitter taste of mulberry leaves as strategies for mulberry leaf food processing and mulberry breeding for vegetable use.

Combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics on the cumulative effect of nano-titanium dioxide on mulberry seedlings.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are among the most widely used inorganic nanomaterials in industry, medicine and food additives. There are increasing concerns regarding their potential risks to plants and the environment. Mulberry trees are widely grown in China due to their high survival rate and ability to aid ecological recovery. Herein, the effects of TiO2 NPs with different concentrations (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L) on the growth and physiology of the mulberry tree were systematically evaluated in aspects of physiology, transcriptomics and metabolomics. Results showed that TiO2 NPs could be absorbed by the mulberry sapling root system and be transferred to the plant shoot. This results in the destruction of mulberry sapling root and leaf tissue. Furthermore, the number of chloroplasts and their pigment contents were reduced and the homeostasis of metal ions was disrupted. The toxic effects of TiO2 NPs attenuated the mulberry sapling's stress resistance, the contents of malondialdehyde in 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L 400 mg/L and 800 mg/L treatment groups increased by 87.70%, 91.36%, 96.57% and 192.19% respectively compared with the control group. The transcriptomic data showed that TiO2 NPs treatment mainly affected the expression of genes related to energy synthesis and transport, protein metabolism, and response to stress. Meanwhile, the results of metabolomics showed that 42 metabolites produced significant differences in mulberry, of which 26 differential metabolites were up-regulated in expression and 16 differential metabolites were down-regulated, mainly including metabolic pathways such as secondary metabolite biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, and tricarboxylic acid cycle, and was not conducive to the seed germination and or growth of the mulberry sapling. This study enriches the understanding of the effects of TiO2 NPs on plants and provides a reference for the comprehensive scientific assessment of the potential risks of nanomaterials on plants.

Isolation, structural characterization and cholesterol-lowering effects of a novel polysaccharide from mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf

Mulberry is a kind of crop with high value and worldwide distribution. Mulberry leaf is being an excellent source of phytochemicals. In present study, a polysaccharide (MLP-2C) with an average Mw of 59.8 kDa was isolated and purified from mulberry leaf by hot water and chromatographic purification. Methylation, GC-MS and NMR analysis revealed that the main glycosidic linkage types of MLP-2C were (1→4)-α-D-GlcpA (28.91%), (1→2,6)-α-D-Glcp (26.81%) and (1→4)-α-D-Manp (29.64%) residues. The side chains mainly composed of (1→2)-α-D-Manp and (1→4)-β-D-GalpA residues which were terminated with α-D-Xylp residue. Within the tested concentrations (100–300 μg/mL), MLP-2C significantly inhibited cholesterol synthesis, promoted bile acid transport and cholesterol efflux by up-regulating the corresponding mRNA expression levels in HepG2 cells (P < 0.05). MLP-2C also exhibited high antioxidant capacity by scavenging of ROS and improving the activities of a series of antioxidant enzymes. The findings indicated that MLP-2C might be a good candidate for potential medicine or functional food on hypercholesterolaemia treatment.

Adaptive Changes in Detoxification Metabolism and Transmembrane Transport of Bombyx mori Malpighian Tubules to Artificial Diet.

The high adaptability of insects to food sources has contributed to their ranking among the most abundant and diverse species on Earth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptation of insects to different foods remain unclear. We explored the changes in gene expression and metabolic composition of the Malpighian tubules as an important metabolic excretion and detoxification organ in silkworms (Bombyx mori) fed mulberry leaf and artificial diets. A total of 2436 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 245 differential metabolites were identified between groups, with the majority of DEGs associated with metabolic detoxification, transmembrane transport, and mitochondrial function. Detoxification enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and UDP-glycosyltransferase, and ABC and SLC transporters of endogenous and exogenous solutes were more abundant in the artificial diet group. Enzyme activity assays confirmed increased CYP and GST activity in the Malpighian tubules of the artificial diet-fed group. Metabolome analysis showed increased contents of secondary metabolites, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, lipids, and food additives in the artificial diet group. Our findings highlight the important role of the Malpighian tubules in adaptation to different foods and provide guidance for further optimization of artificial diets to improve silkworm breeding.

Anti-initial adhesion activity and mechanism of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf polyphenols against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes to fresh-cut lettuce

Anti-initial adhesion activity and mechanism of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf polyphenols against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes to fresh-cut lettuce

Anthocyanins in Mulberry Leaves (Morus rubra L.) Ethanol Extract as the Inhibitor for the Growth of Candida albicans

Infections caused by Candida albicans are generally common in the vaginal mucosa or called Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Herbal medicine is proven to be an alternative to treat vaginal candidiasis. Mulberry leaves have many chemical compounds, one of which is anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have pharmacological benefits and biological activity that can protect against human pathogenic bacteria. This study aims to observe the effect of anthocyanin compounds extracted from mulberry leaves (Morus Rubra L) on the growth of Candida albicans. Identification of compounds on mulberry leaves used the TLC spectrophotodensitometry on silica gel 60 F254. TLC plates were washed with methanol and activated at 110 degrees C for 30 minutes. The plates were eluted in a chamber that had been saturated with the mobile phase of n-butanol:glacial acetic acid:water (4:1:2) and transferred using a CMAG TLC densitometer with a spectrum in the wavelength range of 200-700 nm. Design study is experimental study with a short Post-Test Only Control Group. This study was conducted at the Pharmaceutical Biology Laboratory of PGRI Adi Buana University and the Laboratory of Professor Nidhom Foundation. The results showed that there was a content of anthocyanin compounds in mulberry leaves with antifungal function against Candida albicans.

RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for Simultaneous Estimation of Rutin and Quercetin in Morus alba L. leaf extract

Mulberry, which pertains to the Moraceae family and the genus Morus,has been used in medicine for ages because of its chemical composition and pharmacological action. The plant is recognized in traditional Chinese medicine for its antiphlogistic, diuretic, expectorant, and antidiabetic characteristics. The mulberry leaf is high in flavonoids, which have a variety of biological functions, including antioxidant potential. Quercetin, isoquercetin, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, and other flavonoids can be found in their leaves. The major constituents of total flavones in mulberry leaf extract are rutin and quercetin. The goal of the RP-HPLC approach was to design and validate a method for identifying these elements. HPLC (Shimadzu Technologies LC series) with UV-visible detector at 259nm and C18 column (250mm 4.6mm, 5µm particle size) was used to achieve chromatographic separation (Phenomenex Luna). Solvents (acetonitrile and 0.1 percent v/v solution of glacial acetic acid) were used in the isocratic elution mode. The run time was 10 minutes. The column temperature was 37 degrees Celsius with sample insertion volume 20µl and the flow velocity was 1ml/min. For quercetin and rutin, the devised method produced strong linearity, high accuracy, high precision, high repeatability, high robustness, and high ruggedness. For quercetin and rutin, the LOD and LOQs values were determined to be within acceptable levels.

Predator potential and prey stage preference of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to life stages of Tetranychus urticae and T. macfarlanei (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Spider mites are considered as a potential threat to varying agricultural crops across the globe. Among the agriculturally important spider mite species, Tetranychus urticae Koch and Tetranychus macfarlanei Baker and Pritchard severely affect crop production and incur heavy yield loss in agriculture sector. As an ecofriendly pest management strategy, biocontrol using phytoseiid predatory mites are gaining significant attention over the past few decades. Evaluation of predatory potential and prey stage preference could provide invaluable information on the predatory efficiency of any predators. Feeding experiments were conducted using the phytoseiid predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) on mulberry leaf discs under the laboratory conditions of 30±2ºC, 70±5% Relative Humidity (RH) and a photoperiod of 11 L: 14 D h. After 24 hr of feeding experiment, the nymph and adult female predator exhibited a significant preference in feeding towards the eggs of T. urticae and T. macfarlanei. The larval stage of the predator was found to be non-feeding, thus excluded from the feeding experiment. The order of feeding preference of adult female predator towards different life stages of both the spider mite species were identified as egg&gt;nymph&gt;larva&gt;adult. On the contrary, the predatory nymphal stage exhibited different trend in feeding preference towards the life stages of T. urticae and could be recorded as egg&gt;larva&gt;nymph&gt;adult. For T. macfarlanei, the same could be found as egg&gt;larva=nymph&gt;adult. Surprisingly, irrespective of the life stage differences, N. longispinosus hardly consumed any of the T. macfarlanei adults.