Context: Cardiometabolic risks are regarded as the crucial factors associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Regarding an increased attention to medicinal plants in the current healthcare system, the effects of mulberry (Morus spp., Moraceae) leaves on cardiometabolic risks have been consecutively considered in scientific research.Objective: The present review compiles and summarizes the chemical compositions, biological properties and clinical efficacy of mulberry leaves that are related to the amelioration of cardiometabolic risks.Methods: Published English literature from the PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases was searched by using ‘mulberry leaves’ ‘Morus spp.’, ‘hyperglycemia’, ‘hyperlipidemia’, ‘obesity’, ‘hypertension’, ‘oxidative stress’, ‘atherosclerosis’ and ‘cardiovascular diseases’ as the keywords. The relevant articles published over the past two decades were identified and reviewed.Results: Mulberry leaves contain numerous chemical constituents. 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), phenolics and flavonoids are the prominent functional compounds. Preclinical and clinical studies showed that mulberry leaves possessed various beneficial effects against cardiometabolic risks, including antihyperglycaemic, antihyperlipidaemic, antiobesity, antihypertensive, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and cardioprotective effects.Conclusions: Mulberry leaves could be a promising therapeutic option for modulating cardiometabolic risks. However, further investigations should be performed to substantiate the potential of mulberry leaves in practical uses.

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Dyslipidemia is recognized as a major cause of cardiovascular disease. A number of evidence-based guidelines recommend conventional synthetic drugs as standard therapy for dyslipidemia in clinical practice. However, antihyperlipidemic drugs have some serious side effects. Naturally derived dietary supplements are becoming attractive as an alternative strategy because of their high efficacy and safety, as supported by numerous data. Moreover, they could be considered an initial treatment for dyslipidemia. The aims of this literature review were to demonstrate the efficacy, safety, and clinical implications of dietary supplements for treating dyslipidemia. We reviewed the literature, including data from in vitro, in vivo, and human studies, and clinical guideline recommendations. We classified dietary supplements by their proposed mechanisms of action on lipid metabolism and also collected daily dosage recommendations, interactions with concurrent drugs and/or foods, dosage forms, and examples of commercially available products. Various types of naturally derived dietary supplements exhibit lipid-improving properties. Efficacy and safety are acceptable; however, their use in clinical practice will require further well-designed investigations and the support of scientific data.

Pre-diabetic or early-stage type 2 diabetes patients may develop an adverse diabetic progression, leading to several complications and increasing hospitalization rates. Mulberry leaves, which contain 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), have been used as a complementary medicine for diabetes prevention and treatment. Our recent study demonstrated that mulberry leaf powder with 12 mg of DNJ improves postprandial hyperglycemia, fasting plasma glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. However, the detailed mechanisms are still unknown. This study investigates the effect of long-term (12-week) supplementation of mulberry leaves in obese people with prediabetes and patients with early-stage type 2 diabetes. Participants’ blood was collected before and after supplementation. The protein profile of the plasma was examined by proteomics. In addition, the mitochondrial function was evaluated by energetic and homeostatic markers using immunoelectron microscopy. The proteomics results showed that, from a total of 1291 proteins, 32 proteins were related to diabetes pathogenesis. Retinol-binding protein 4 and haptoglobin protein were downregulated, which are associated with insulin resistance and inflammation, respectively. For mitochondrial function, the haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase domain-containing protein 3 (HDHD-3) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp-1) displayed a significant increment in the after treatment group. In summary, administration of mulberry leaf powder extract in prediabetes and the early stage of diabetes can alleviate insulin resistance and inflammation and promote mitochondrial function in terms of energy production and fission.

We developed and evaluated dental gels and pastilles containing high concentrations of xylitol for dental caries. First, 16 gel formulations (G1-G16) were prepared containing 20%-30% xylitol and gelling agents (4% hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose: HPMC; 4% carboxy methyl cellulose or 1%-2% xanthan gum). The physical appearance, pH, viscosity, and adhesiveness of the gels were evaluated. Gels containing 2% xanthan gum were considered optimized formulations and were yellowish, homogeneous, translucent, and highly adhesive. Second, 12 pastille formulations (P1-P12) were prepared containing 55.6% xylitol and a combination of 6%-14% gelatin and 1.42%-1.50% carrageenan. The pastilles were evaluated for physical appearance, pH, and dissolution. The pastille formulations containing 8.2% gelatin and 1.50% carrageenan had homogeneous, translucent, and chewable attributes. Furthermore, the stability of the optimized formulations was determined. The physicochemical characteristics of the gels remained acceptable after accelerated and long-term storage at 40 ± 2°C/75 ± 5% RH and 30 ± 2°C/75 ± 5% RH, respectively, for 3 months. No changes in physicochemical characteristics were evident after storage in 30 ± 2°C/75 ± 5% RH for 3 months. However, the pastilles became unstable after one month of storage at 40 ± 2°C/75 ± 5% RH.