Mulberry leaves forming a healthy kidney

Mulberry Leaf Magic: A Natural Way to Fight Kidney Damage?

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Could the humble mulberry leaf hold the key to preventing diabetic nephropathy and supporting kidney health? New research suggests its polysaccharides offer a promising solution."

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health concern worldwide, often leading to serious complications like diabetic nephropathy (DN), a type of kidney disease. DN is characterized by progressive kidney damage and is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure. Finding ways to prevent or treat DN is crucial, and new research is exploring natural solutions.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves, known for their low toxicity and therapeutic benefits, have been used in traditional medicine and as a food source. They're rich in polysaccharides, compounds known for their health-promoting properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This has sparked interest in whether mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) could help protect against DN.

This article delves into a recent study that investigated the effects of a specific mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLP-1) on renal fibrosis in rats with induced diabetic nephropathy. The research explores how MLP-1, extracted using an innovative enzymatic method, influences key markers of kidney health, offering insights into a potential natural treatment for DN.

MLP-1: A Sweet Solution for Kidney Protection?

Mulberry leaves forming a healthy kidney

The study focused on a particular polysaccharide, MLP-1, extracted from mulberry leaves using thermostable α-amylase. This method ensures efficient extraction of the beneficial compounds. The extracted MLP-1 was then administered to rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy to observe its effects on their kidney health.

Researchers monitored several key indicators of kidney function and overall health in the rats. These included:

Serum Insulin and Fasting Blood Glucose: These measure blood sugar control, a critical factor in diabetes management.
24-hour Urinary Albumin and Urine Protein: Elevated levels indicate kidney damage and impaired filtration.
Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF): This protein plays a significant role in the development of renal fibrosis.

The results showed that MLP-1 significantly improved these markers in the diabetic rats. Specifically, it reduced serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, urinary albumin, urine protein, and CTGF levels. These findings suggest that MLP-1 can effectively inhibit renal fibrosis and potentially offer a therapeutic approach for treating DN. The study highlighted that MLP-1 consists of arabinose, glucose, xylose, rhamnose, and mannose.

The Promising Future of Mulberry Leaf Polysaccharides

This study provides compelling evidence that MLP-1, a polysaccharide extracted from mulberry leaves, can positively impact kidney health in diabetic conditions. By reducing key markers of renal fibrosis, MLP-1 shows promise as a natural agent for managing and potentially treating diabetic nephropathy.

While these findings are encouraging, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and to determine the optimal dosage and long-term effects of MLP-1. Clinical trials in humans are necessary to confirm its efficacy and safety.

The discovery of MLP-1's beneficial effects opens new avenues for exploring natural compounds in the fight against kidney disease. As we continue to seek innovative solutions for managing diabetes and its complications, mulberry leaf polysaccharides may play an increasingly important role in promoting kidney health and overall well-being.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.029, Alternate LINK

Title: Mulberry Leaf Polysaccharides Suppress Renal Fibrosis

Subject: Molecular Biology

Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Shengjun Wu

Published: 2019-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Diabetic nephropathy and why is it a concern?

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of Diabetes mellitus (DM) where the kidneys get damaged. It is characterized by progressive kidney damage and can lead to end-stage renal failure. Preventing or treating DN is essential. Finding natural solutions, like using mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLP-1), offers a promising avenue for managing and mitigating the impact of DN.

What are Mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) and what makes them significant?

Mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) are compounds extracted from mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.). These polysaccharides are known for their health-promoting properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The study focused on a specific type of polysaccharide, MLP-1, which was extracted using thermostable α-amylase. The research indicates that MLP-1 can potentially help protect against DN by reducing renal fibrosis.

How was MLP-1 used in the study?

MLP-1 was administered to rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy. Researchers monitored key indicators of kidney function and overall health in the rats, including serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, 24-hour urinary albumin, urine protein, and Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF). The results demonstrated that MLP-1 improved these markers, indicating a positive impact on kidney health.

What were the key findings of the study on MLP-1?

The study showed that MLP-1 reduced serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, urinary albumin, urine protein, and Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) levels. These findings suggest that MLP-1 effectively inhibits renal fibrosis, the progressive scarring of the kidney, and could be a potential therapeutic approach for treating Diabetic nephropathy (DN). The study also indicated that MLP-1 is composed of arabinose, glucose, xylose, rhamnose, and mannose.

What is the overall significance of this research on MLP-1?

The study provides evidence that MLP-1, a polysaccharide from mulberry leaves, can positively impact kidney health in diabetic conditions. By reducing key markers of renal fibrosis, MLP-1 shows promise as a natural agent for managing and potentially treating diabetic nephropathy (DN). The potential implication is the development of natural treatments to combat the effects of DN, offering hope for improved kidney health in individuals with diabetes.