What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.
Nutrition per serving 1 cup (140 g)
Water122.8 g88%
Sugars11.3 g8%
Fibre2.4 g2%
Protein2 g1%
Fat0.5 g0%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Mulberry (Morus alba) is a fruit used for blunts post-meal glucose spikes (mulberry-leaf dnj inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidase). NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. The best-supported human effect of Morus alba is glycemic: a meta-analysis of 13 RCTs found mulberry-derived products significantly cut postprandial glucose at 30, 60 and 90 minutes, and controlled trials show standardized leaf extract (~12 mg 1-deoxynojirimycin) lowers the glucose and insulin rise after a sugar or carbohydrate-rich meal by roughly 20-40%. A 12-week dose-finding RCT in obese borderline-diabetics found small but significant reductions in fasting glucose (~3.9 mg/dL) and HbA1c (~0.11%), though glucose tolerance itself was unchanged. Crucially, most of this evidence comes from concentrated mulberry-LEAF extract, not the fresh fruit (a sweet berry); the fruit's glycemic value is inferred and far less studied. Lipid and longer-term cardiometabolic benefits remain inconsistent and unproven, and the same meta-analysis found no change in fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR or any lipid marker. Trials are mostly small, short, industry-linked, and use varying extracts and doses, so effects on hard outcomes are unestablished. The fruit itself is a nutrient-dense, low-calorie berry notable for vitamin C and iron, but its specific health claims rest largely on extrapolation from leaf and in-vitro data.
1 cup fresh fruit (~140 g); glycemic trials use mulberry-leaf extract standardized to ~12 mg DNJ before carbohydrate meals
Active Compounds
1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and related iminosugar alkaloids (leaf)Anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside)Flavonols (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol glycosides)Chlorogenic acid and other hydroxycinnamic acidsVitamin C (ascorbic acid)Iron and other minerals (potassium, magnesium)Carotenoids and lutein+zeaxanthinResveratrol and stilbenes (bark/root, minor in fruit)
Safety & Cautions
⚠
Generally recognized as safe as a food. Concentrated mulberry-leaf extracts commonly cause dose-dependent GI effects (bloating, flatulence, loose stools) from carbohydrate malabsorption. Because leaf DNJ lowers post-meal glucose, people on insulin or sulfonylureas should monitor for additive hypoglycemia and consult a clinician. Theoretical additive effect with acarbose/miglitol (same alpha-glucosidase mechanism). White mulberry pollen and fruit can trigger allergy in sensitized individuals; unripe fruit and other plant parts contain latex-like sap that may irritate. Safety of high-dose extracts in pregnancy/lactation is not established. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Mulberry with any medicine.
Mulberry is most often taken for Blunts post-meal glucose spikes (mulberry-leaf DNJ inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidase), Modestly lowers fasting glucose and HbA1c in prediabetes/T2D over weeks, Reduces post-meal insulin demand when taken with carbohydrate, Good source of vitamin C and iron for a fresh berry. Antioxidant berry whose leaf blunts sugar spikes
Does Mulberry work — what does the evidence say?
Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. The best-supported human effect of Morus alba is glycemic: a meta-analysis of 13 RCTs found mulberry-derived products significantly cut postprandial glucose at 30, 60 and 90 minutes, and controlled trials show standardized leaf extract (~12 mg 1-deoxynojirimycin) lowers the glucose and insulin rise after a sugar or carbohydrate-rich meal by roughly 20-40%. A 12-week dose-finding RCT in obese borderline-diabetics found small but significant reductions in fasting glucose (~3.9 mg/dL) and HbA1c (~0.11%), though glucose tolerance itself was unchanged. Crucially, most of this evidence comes from concentrated mulberry-LEAF extract, not the fresh fruit (a sweet berry); the fruit's glycemic value is inferred and far less studied. Lipid and longer-term cardiometabolic benefits remain inconsistent and unproven, and the same meta-analysis found no change in fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR or any lipid marker. Trials are mostly small, short, industry-linked, and use varying extracts and doses, so effects on hard outcomes are unestablished. The fruit itself is a nutrient-dense, low-calorie berry notable for vitamin C and iron, but its specific health claims rest largely on extrapolation from leaf and in-vitro data.
What is the typical dose of Mulberry?
1 cup fresh fruit (~140 g); glycemic trials use mulberry-leaf extract standardized to ~12 mg DNJ before carbohydrate meals
Is Mulberry safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Generally recognized as safe as a food. Concentrated mulberry-leaf extracts commonly cause dose-dependent GI effects (bloating, flatulence, loose stools) from carbohydrate malabsorption. Because leaf DNJ lowers post-meal glucose, people on insulin or sulfonylureas should monitor for additive hypoglycemia and consult a clinician. Theoretical additive effect with acarbose/miglitol (same alpha-glucosidase mechanism). White mulberry pollen and fruit can trigger allergy in sensitized individuals; unripe fruit and other plant parts contain latex-like sap that may irritate. Safety of high-dose extracts in pregnancy/lactation is not established.
How many studies support Mulberry?
NutriDex cites 10 sources for Mulberry, graded "Moderate".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Mulberry (Morus alba): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/mulberry
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_mulberry,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Mulberry (Morus alba): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/mulberry},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.