CHARACTERISATION, PHARMACOTOXICOLOGICAL AND
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MORUS ALBA L. EXTRACT AND ITS
FRACTIONS
CRISTINA MANUELA DRĂGOI 1, OCTAVIAN TUDOREL OLARU 1*, MIHAELA DINU 1, CARMEN POPESCU 2,3, ANDREEA LETIȚIA ARSENE 1, ALINA DUNE 3, ALINA CRENGUȚA NICOLAE 1, ROBERT VIOREL ANCUCEANU 1, CRISTINA ELENA ZBÂRCEA 1, SIMONA NEGREȘ 1, GEORGE MIHAI NIȚULESCU 1, OANA CRISTINA ȘEREMET 1
1Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956, Bucharest,
Romania
2“Vasile Goldiș” Western University of Arad, 94 Revoluției Blvd., 310025, Arad, Romania
3HOFIGAL SA, 2 Intrarea Serelor Street, 042124, Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: octav_olaru2002@yahoo.com
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Abstract:
The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the anti-allergic properties of an extract from mulberry (Morus alba L.)
leaves and several fractions obtained by open column fractionation. The extract and its fractions were characterized by
polyphenolic content, and their toxicity was evaluated using two methods: Triticum aestivum and Daphnia magna bioassays.
The total extract was obtained from mulberry leaves by extraction with 50% ethanol. Six major fractions (A-F) were obtained
using column fractionation. Because of the low yield of fractions A and B, they weren’t further characterized. The IR
analyses revealed a large band close to 3100 cm-1, indicating the presence of polyphenols. Chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid,
caffeic acid, epicatechin, rutin and kaempferol were identified by HPLC analyses in the extract and its fractions. The
quantitative analysis showed a content of total polyphenols in the range of 2.64 to 7.33 mg, as gallic acid equivalents/g dry
extract (DM) and a total flavonoid content of 0.95 to 2.39 mg, as quercetin equivalents/g. The acute toxicity assessment
revealed a low toxic effect for the total extract and all tested fractions, in both Triticum aestivum and Daphnia magna models.
The topical anti-allergic effect and the serum histamine levels were assessed in an experimental model of contact
hypersensitivity induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in BALB/c mice, over a period of 14 days. The total extract
and fraction F reduced the hypersensitivity response all throughout the treatment and the most prominent antihistaminic
effect was recorded for the groups of animals treated with C and D fractions and the total extract of Morus alba L.






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