Mulberry: A review of bioactive compounds and advanced processing technology

The lignin biosynthetic pathway has been studied for more than a century but has undergone major revisions over the past decade. Significant progress has been made in cloning new genes by genetic and combined bioinformatics and biochemistry approaches. In vitro enzymatic assays and detailed analyses of mutants and transgenic plants altered in the expression of lignin biosynthesis genes have provided a solid basis for redrawing the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, and structural analyses have shown that plant cell walls can tolerate large variations in lignin content and structure. In some cases, the potential value for agriculture of transgenic plants with modified lignin structure has been demonstrated. This review presents a current picture of monolignol biosynthesis, polymerization, and lignin structure.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that nutritional habits, like those based on high consumption of fruits and vegetables, have been associated with a longer life expectancy and a significant decrease in the incidence and prevalence of several chronic diseases with inflammatory basis, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This beneficial activity has been related to the content of several bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables, such as polyphenols. The cardioprotective effects of polyphenols have been linked mainly to its antioxidant properties; however, recent findings attribute its anti-atherosclerotic potential to modulate simultaneous signaling and mechanistic pathways. Emerging data suggest that polyphenols can regulate cellular lipid metabolism; vascular and endothelial function; haemostasis; as well as platelet function; which represent primary conditions for atherosclerotic plaque formation and development. This review presents the results of a selection of experimental studies and clinical trials regarding the atheroprotective effects of the most common dietary polyphenols.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polysaccharides from mulberry leaves was studied. The effects of four factors on the yield of polysaccharides were investigated. The results showed that optimum conditions were extraction power of 60W, extraction temperature of 60°C, extraction time of 20min and ratio of water to raw material of 15:1 (ml/g). The three different methods (UAE, MAE and CSE) were compared for extracting polysaccharides from the mulberry leaves by SEM images. Totally, UAE had the largest yield of polysaccharides. The crude polysaccharides obtained from UAE were purified and two components (MPS-1 and MPS-2) were obtained. Their structure was analysed with chemical methods. From FT-IR, they were polysaccharides. MPS-1 had more functional groups than MPS-2. From HP GPC analysis, molecular weights of MPS-1 and MPS-2 were 24898D and 61131D, respectively. From GC analysis, MPS-1 was composed of Sor, Ara, Xyl and Glc, and MPS-2 was composed of Rha, Ara, Xyl, Glc, Gal and Man.