Antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of methanol extracts from raw and fermented parts of mulberry plant (Morus alba L.)

Total phenolic content, phenolic acids, radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative properties of different parts of mulberry (Morus alba L.) were determined. The highest phenolic content was found in methanol extracts of mulberry root (117.7 +/- A 2.0), followed by leaves (71.4 +/- A 2.4), branches (49.0 +/- A 1.5) and fruit (11.2 +/- A 0.3) [mg ferulic acid equivalents (FAE) kg(-1) dry weight (DW)] (P < 0.05). The highest level of total phenolics in the fractions was in roots (166.2 +/- A 7.5 and 160.8 +/- A 7.2 mg kg(-1) DW for BuOH and EtOAC, respectively). Methanol extracts and their fractions dose dependently increased radical scavenging activity of mulberry branches, roots and leafs (more than 70%). Total phenolic content of the tested plant extracts was highly correlated with the radical scavenging activity. The antiproliferative effect of mulberry parts on human cell lines was different and connected to the concentrations of the investigated extracts. The fermentation of the mulberry leaves did increase their methanol extract antiproliferative effect only on human gastric carcinoma (SNU-601) cell line in concentration of 1,000 mg mL(-1). In conclusion, some plant parts of the Korean mulberry could be recommended as preventative and therapeutic agents, based on their antioxidant and antiproliferative properties.