Morus alba L. (M. alba) is a highly adaptable plant that is extensively incorporated in many traditional and Ayurveda medications. Various parts of the plant, such as leaves, fruits, and seeds, possess nutritional and medicinal value. M. alba has abundant phytochemicals, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols, anthocyanins, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and volatile aromatic compounds, indicating its excellent pharmacological abilities. M. alba also contains high nutraceutical values for protein, carbohydrates, fiber, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals, as well as a low lipid value. However, despite its excellent biological properties and nutritional value, M. alba has not been fully considered as a potential functional food ingredient. Therefore, this review reports on the nutrients and bioactive compounds available in M. alba leaves, fruit, and seeds; its nutraceutical properties, functional properties as an ingredient in foodstuffs, and a microencapsulation technique to enhance polyphenol stability. Finally, as scaling up to a bigger production plant is needed to accommodate industrial demand, the study and limitation on an M. alba upscaling process is reviewed.

Cultivation location, maturity levels, and extraction solvents could affect the bioactive compounds and biological activities of mulberry (Morus alba Linnaeus). The lack of study on Malaysia-grown mulberry causes its underutilization. This study investigated the bioactive compound content and the antioxidant activity of Sabah-grown mulberry at two different maturity stages (fruits: red mature and black fully ripe; leaves: young and mature) extracted using 70% (v/v) methanol, 60% (v/v) ethanol, and 65% (v/v) acetone. Analyses showed that mulberry fruits demonstrated maturity-dependent increment (except UHPLC-DAD quantification), while the leaves revealed maturity-dependent reduction. Principal component analysis (PCA) displayed 65% (v/v) acetone black fully ripe fruits as the best phenolics and antioxidant sources. However, the 60% (v/v) ethanol black fully ripe fruits contained 20.08–68.43% higher total anthocyanins. Meanwhile, the 65% (v/v) acetone and 70% (v/v) methanol red mature fruits were higher in chlorogenic acid (27.53–47.12%) and rutin (31.42–35.92%) than other fruit extracts, respectively. For leaves, 65% (v/v) acetone young leaves were the best phenolics and antioxidant sources. However, the 60% (v/v) ethanol young leaves possessed greater chlorogenic acid (19.56–74.11%) than other leaf extracts. Overall, Malaysia-grown mulberry is rich in phenolics and antioxidants, suggesting its potential application in food and pharmaceutical products.

White mulberry (Morus albaL.) is a berry native to China which fruit is usually eaten fresh or after processed. Its bioactive compounds vary depending on species, cultivation, location and others. In this study, the total flavonoids content, total phenolic content, total anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity ofMorus albaL. fruit grown in Tuaran, Sabah were analyzed. Fruit was extracted with 60°C hot water and 80% ethanol, while the total bioactive compounds analysis utilized aluminum chloride, Folin-Ciocalteu and pH differential method in determining the flavonoids, phenolic, and anthocyanins content. Their antioxidant activity was determined using Free Radical Scavenging 2.2-Dyphenyl-1-Pikrilhidrazil (DPPH), Ferric Reduction Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Radical Cation 2,2’-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. As a result, significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of total flavonoids (104.34 mg QE mg⁻¹), phenolic (1.21 mg GAE mg⁻¹) and anthocyanins (0.74 mg c-3-ge mg⁻¹) were obtained from ethanolic extract than the hot water extract. Also, significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity was observed in ethanolic extract for DPPH (0.50 mg mL⁻¹), FRAP (3.74 mm Fe (II) g⁻¹) and ABTS (6.05 mg AEAC g⁻¹). Data showed that ethanol solvent (80%) is a better solvent forMorus albaL. fruit’s extraction.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in a part of Borneo, which is Sabah, Malaysia, and worldwide. The anticancer activity of white mulberry (Morus alba Linnaeus) has been widely reported. However, cultivation locations, maturity levels, and extraction solvents could influence their phytochemical and pharmacological activities. The lack of anticancer investigation has hampered the development and potential use of Borneo-grown mulberry as an anticancer agent or source. This study investigated the cell cytotoxicity activity of Malaysia-grown mulberry at two maturity stages (fruits: brackish black fully ripe and red mature; leaves: young and mature) extracted using 70% (v/v) methanol, 60% (v/v) ethanol, and 65% (v/v) acetone, against a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). As a result, fruits demonstrated maturity-dependent cytotoxicity decrement as the red mature fruits in 70% (v/v) methanol exerted the strongest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 26.83 mg/mL). Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of leaves revealed maturity-dependent increment as mature leaves in 60% (v/v) ethanol exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 (IC50 = 2.45 mg/mL). Their cytotoxicity is possibly correlated to the anticancer-possessing phenolic acids and flavonoids in fruits; and the anticancerpossessing alkaloids and terpenes in leaves. Overall, Sabah-grown mulberry possesses substantial cytotoxicity against MCF-7, suggesting its anticancer potential as a complementary treatment for breast cancer.