Phytochemical study, phenolic profile and antigastric ulcer activity of Morus macroura Miq. fruits extract

Abstract

The extract of Morus macroura (mulberry) fruits was evaluated for its phytochemical constituents and antigastric ulcer activity. Total phenolic content was assessed and found to be 33μg/ml expressed as mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried extract. The phenolic profile was determined by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection method (RP/HPLC/DAD). Cinnamic acid derivatives were the most dominant (40.50%) of the identified phenolics and chlorogenic acid was the most abundant with relative area percentage 21.16 %. Mono and disaccharides contents of the silylated-lyophilized extract were determined by GC/MS and α -D- Glucofuranoside (32.34%) was found to be the major. The study was conducted to evaluate the antiulcerogenic effect of the extract in rat's ethanol model. The reductions in ulcer indices including number of lesions and their severity, the gastric volume and the total acidity in ulcerated rats pre or post treated with mulberry extract were measured. A significant increase in reduced glutathione level and a reduction in malondialdehyde were recorded in mulberry treated groups. In addition two ulcer biomarkers prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor-a showed an improvement in their levels due to mulberry supplementation. Accordingly, this study recommends mulberry as an antiulcer agent.