Mulberry Compound May Modulate Blood Sugar

A staple remedy of folk medicine, mulberry leaf extract is found to contain the compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) – found to inhibit the activity of the enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion.  Hye In Chung, from Ewha Womans University (South Korea), and colleagues  enrolled 50 healthy men and women, each of whom was randomly assigned to one of five groups: four groups received a maltose powder drink containing 0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5 grams of mulberry leaf extract; the fifth group drank a beverage with 5 grams of the extract 30 minutes before consuming the maltose solution.  The team observed that  both the 2.5 and 5 gram mulberry doses lowered glucose levels. .No difference between pre- and simultaneous ingestion of mulberry extract and maltose was detected.  The study authors submit that: “The ingestion of [mulberry leaf extract] resulted in improved postprandial glycemic control in healthy subjects.”