Investigation on the Antibacterial and Antiviral Activities of Mulberry Extracts

Previous research has shown that the mulberry tree, a native plant originally to Asia but found all over the world, has antibacterial and antiviral activities. Previous studies have reported a wide range of efficacies with conflicting results because they do not compare the different properties of a plant, specifically male versus female plants. As preliminary results, we have found evidence of activity against both a Gram-positive and a Gramnegative bacteria with aqueous fruit extracts with root extracts being more effective against the Gram-positive. Since the fruits are only found in female plants, we are still investigating the activities of other plant tissues and comparing the results between male and female. We are also currently investigating the antiviral aspect with preliminary results showing that the plant extracts were not toxic to cells, therefore the extract may be able to be a defense mechanism to protect the cell and/or attack the virus.