Mulberry, belonging to the family Moraceae, is a mainstay of sericulture and is also found to
be rich in bioactive phytoconstituents. It is well acclaimed for its antioxidant nature, therapeutic
properties, and ethno-botanical desirability. In recent years, there has been a growing interest
in exploring natural sources of antioxidants due to their potential health benefits. By analyzing
the phytochemical constituents of these leaves using GC-MS, this study aims to provide
valuable insights into their antioxidant properties and their potential role in preventing
oxidative stress-related diseases. Understanding the antioxidant effects of Morus alba L. leaves
can contribute to the development of new therapeutic interventions and dietary
recommendations for maintaining optimal health. Methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane
extracts of dried leaves were prepared by Soxhlet extraction method and analyzed for bioactive
phytochemicals using GC-MS technique. The GC-MS analysis detected the presence of sixteen
bioactive phytoconstituents in the leaf extracts of Morus alba L. mainly, alcohols, phytosterols,
organic acids, terpenes, long-chain hydrocarbons, esters which were confirmed by comparing
their retention time, peak area, peak height and mass spectra with known compounds identified
by NIST library. All the three extracts analyzed by GC-MS analysis were found to be rich in
bioactive compounds such as phenolics, esters, organic acids, volatile oils, aldehydes, alcohols
and terpenes known to possess potent antioxidant activity along with antidiabetic, antibacterial, anticancer, cardiovascular, hypolipidemic, antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
The present study reveals that mulberry leaves are a promising source of phytochemicals with
established biological effects, the most important being the antioxidant effect.
Keywords: GC-MS, antioxidant potential, Morus alba L., Sericulture, phytochemicals,
therapeutic potential, drug development
Publication date: 01/02/2025
https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2025/February/MS_IJBPAS_2025_8701.pdf
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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2025/14.2.8701
