We have had this plant for well over 20 years having planted it when we first bought this property - it was a small sucker from the property over the road and so was well adapted to this area.
binomial name : Morus nigra ( I think it is nigra)
common name : Mulberry
It grows and fruits prolifically where it was planted and we enjoy picking and eating the fruit each year. We freeze bags of it for use later after the season has ended as well. Usually, we have some with breakfast - with cereal or rolled oats. There is lots of good reasons to eat dark coloured berries like this regularly and here are some:
Pubmed (search term Mulberry)
abstract 1 : Leaf extract exhibited anti-cancer activity against liver cancer cells.
abstract 8: Several isolated compounds from Mulberry leaves had anti-cancer activity against human cervical cells, breast and liver cancer cell lines.
abstract 12: Mulberry leaf tablets lowered cholesterol and trigylcerides over 12 weeks in a clinical trial in Thailand.
abstract 18: Mulberry leaf powder had a blood glucose lowering effect in diabetic mice. This was confirmed in a rat study as well (abstract 30)
These sorts of results are not surprising, they seem to be effects reflecting nutrients ( polyphenols, anthocyanins etc ) that we only get from eating fresh fruit and greens and these medical/scientific studies support that. Such beneficial anti-cancer, anti-diabetes and blood pressure lowering effects I have found now in lots of the edible weeds, vegetables and fruits we are growing or using.
Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment