Phytochemistry and Potential Pharmacological Properties of Morus alba Plant for Health Benefits: A Comprehensive Review

Morus alba L. is a fast-growing shrub or moderate height tree and considered as Ayurvedic medicinal plant due to its medicinal uses. M. alba has high concentrations of phenols, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and carbohydrates. In this review, approximately 200 papers were reviewed, and finally 96 papers were used to explore the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the Morus alba plant. The aim of this study is to provide an insightful exploration of biologically active compounds present in the bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the M. alba plant, and its potential pharmacological effects include anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anthelmintic, anti-obesity, anxiolytic, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and nephroprotective activity. Phytocompounds present in M. alba extracts also have various biological activities, including blood coagulation factors, vasodilation, cytotoxic responses, cytokine storming, sympathetic responses, oxidative stress, cardiovascular, skin, gastrointestinal, skin whitening, and fibrosis, among others. The findings of this review paper showed that different parts of M. alba have various pharmacological and therapeutic potential and hence can be used in various herbal formulations as well as health care products.