"Raja Buah Cina" -Mulberry
Talking about the “previous life” of mulberry, there is an interesting legend. At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang rebelled. Liu Xiu, a descendant of the Han Dynasty, personally conquered Wang Mang. Unexpectedly, he was defeated by Wang Mang and fled. Later, he lived in Youzhou (today’s Beijing). ), the soldiers were hungry, and it happened to be the mulberry picking season, so Liu Xiu relied on mulberries to satisfy his hunger and survived the difficult period. A few years later, Liu Xiu reorganized his army and horses, attacked Wang Mang again, and won a victory. Not forgetting the man who dug the well, he sent his subordinates to reward the mulberry tree that saved him. Unexpectedly, the visitor did not recognize the mulberry tree and mistakenly rewarded the chun tree next to it. Later generations began to spread the saying that “the mulberry tree saves the driver, and the chun tree makes the king”. More than 2,000 years ago, mulberries became a tonic used by emperors. They are sweet and juicy and have the functions of nourishing the liver and kidneys, improving eyesight, quenching thirst, detoxifying, and beautifying the skin. From the time when mulberries were eaten in ancient times to the present, there are many records of their use as medicine. Mulberries are known as the “Chinese Fruit King”, “Folk Sacred Fruit” and “Longevity Fruit” by the people.
Mulberries are also commonly known as mulberry seeds, mulberry dates, etc. When mulberries are not yet mature, they appear green in color and taste sour. When fully mature, they turn purple-black in color, tender, juicy, and sweet in taste. Although mulberry is a small fruit, its unique taste is unforgettable for many people after eating it. Mature mulberry fruit is very nutritious. Its fruit grows very densely and integrates into an oval or oblong flower cluster. Different varieties have different fruit sizes. But the only thing that remains unchanged is the taste, which is green at first and becomes fleshy, black-purple or red when mature. Artificially cultivated mulberry trees generally grow in hills, hillsides, beside villages, fields, etc. Mulberries can grow in most areas across the country, and are mainly produced in large quantities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Sichuan, Hebei and other places.
Chemical substances and functions contained in mulberry fruits extract Anthocyanins
Many scientific researchers have found that mulberries are rich in active protein, vitamins, amino acids, carotene, minerals and other chemical components. The nutrients are 5-6 times that of apples and 4 times that of grapes. They have a variety of magical effects. . Considering the high iron content of mulberry fruit, mulberry fruit has been found in clinical applications to increase the number of hemoglobin and red blood cells, and has a sustained improvement effect on loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, palpitation, shortness of breath, etc. caused by nutritional anemia. Mulberries are not only delicious, but also very rich in nutritional value. Eating them regularly is of great benefit to us [1].
In addition, mulberries also contain a large amount of resveratrol, which has strong antioxidant capacity. Resveratrol can effectively prevent the major oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, more effectively inhibit the normal growth of cancer cells in the human body, and can also safely and effectively eliminate viruses in the body. Figure 1 below shows the structural formula of resveratrol. The molecular formula is C14H12O3 and the relative molecular mass is 228.25. It is a polyphenol phytoalexin that is produced by plants under the action of exogenous stimuli such as ultraviolet light irradiation, mechanical damage or fungal infection. It is produced and widely distributed in the roots, stems, leaves and fruits of plants, and has good antioxidant properties [2]. Free radicals are by-products produced during the normal metabolic process of the body. When free radicals accumulate in large amounts in the body, they can destroy proteins and DNA through oxidative modification, causing cell damage or even death, which can lead to various physiological diseases. Resveratrol’s Antioxidant ability lies in scavenging and inhibiting the production of free radicals, thereby achieving the effect of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in the human body [3]. Resveratrol has been called a new type of anti-cancer drug in recent years, and mulberries contain this ingredient, so mulberries also have anti-cancer pharmacological effects [4].
There are nutrients in mulberries, such as tannic acid, fatty acids, malic acid, etc. Among them, malic acid, also known as 2-hydroxysuccinic acid, is a humectant that can absorb moisture from the air and trap it in the skin. . Tannic acid, also known as tannic acid, is an organic compound with the molecular formula C76H52O46. It can be used to treat intestinal bacterial infectious diseases. Fatty acids are a type of compound, which are a combination of three common elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are also the main components of phospholipids, neutral fats, and glycolipids. Fatty acids can help vitamins A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Its absorption also has the effects of oxidatively decomposing fat, lowering blood lipid levels, and preventing vascular sclerosis. Because mulberries contain these nutrients, they can strengthen the spleen and stomach and aid digestion, and can also be used to treat diarrhea caused by indigestion [5].
However, fresh mulberries are easy to rot and break after being picked, and dried mulberries not only solve this problem but also retain the taste and efficacy of mulberries to the greatest extent. As a kind of dried fruit, dried mulberries contain malic acid, vitamins B1, B2, carotene, etc., as well as anthocyanins, resveratrol and other substances. Among them, anthocyanins, also known as anthocyanidins, are a class of anthocyanins that are widely present in nature. Water-soluble natural pigments in plants, Figure 4 is the basic structure of anthocyanins, R1 and R2 are H, OH or OCH3, R3 is sugar group or H, R4 is sugar group or OH, and anthocyanin is another effect It is a very strong antioxidant. After taking in a certain amount of anthocyanins, it can maintain normal body cell connections in the body, stabilize blood in blood vessels, promote beneficial circulation of microvessels, and control the orderly flow of capillaries and veins. It is more popular among female compatriots and middle-aged and elderly people [6]. Different people eat dried mulberries in different ways. Some people use dried mulberries to soak in tea and add mulberries to increase appetite when making porridge. Some people use dried mulberries to make some typical desserts, which are both good and delicious. It has a unique taste and can add a lot of color. No matter which way it is used, its nutritional value has been fully reflected. In addition, substances such as RES have been detected in dried mulberries, which can stimulate gene sequences, inhibit the growth of cancer cells to a large extent, maintain the advantage of immune promotion, and can also prevent the undirected spread of tumor cells and prevent cancer and anti-cancer separation. Don’t open its contribution. At the same time, it also has the effect of rapidly growing blood cells and replenishing the blood. Whether it is men or women, the kidney tonifying effect is considerable and worthy of appreciation. In addition, many parents are worried about their children’s intellectual development and buy a lot of supplements, but in fact, mulberry fruits can also promote the intellectual development of their children [7].
Mulberry is a fruit suitable for all ages. It is delicious but you should not eat too much. It also has some dietary taboos. First of all, chemical analysis methods have been used to detect that mulberries contain substances that inhibit trypsin. It is recommended not to eat too many mulberries at one time. If you eat too much, the activity of digestive enzymes attached to the intestines will be weakened. The emphasis is on It’s trypsin. Its deficiency can cause hemorrhagic enteritis, and some people may experience dizziness and nosebleeds. Therefore, although mulberries are delicious, they must be eaten in moderation.
Secondly, mulberry fruits and duck eggs cannot be eaten within the same period of time, otherwise it will cause stomach discomfort and cause digestive disorders. It is also important to note that mulberries cannot be eaten together with seafood, because mulberries contain tannic acid, and seafood contains a large amount of protein. The combination of tannic acid and protein will reduce the therapeutic value of nutritious food, and will also Cause gastric mucosal damage and indigestion [8].
How to understand “seven effects of a mulberry”?
We know that mulberries are small and inconspicuous among the dazzling array of fruits, but after fully understanding them, the value they embody will make you jaw-dropping. Let’s learn how a mulberry embodies its seven functions.
One of the functions is to protect blood vessels: The fine particles that look like sand on the outer surface of mulberries are actually small seeds. They contain a variety of unsaturated fatty acids and can lower fat and lose weight, prevent atherosclerosis, hardening of bones, joints, and ligaments, and promote metabolism. function. It can promote the vigorous growth of red blood cells, prevent the number of white blood cells from significantly decreasing, and has auxiliary effects in the treatment of diabetes, anemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, neurasthenia and other diseases [9].
The second function is black hair: The health of your kidneys is closely related to your hair, and mulberries have the effect of nourishing the kidneys. Elderly people often say that if the kidney qi is not strong, the hair will turn gray. It is everyone’s wish to have black hair, especially in this fast-paced life, so when mulberries are on the market, you must pick more fresh mulberries, after all, fresh fruits have more fragrance [9].
The third function is anti-cancer: The mulberry tree includes fresh mulberry leaves on the branches, which are rich in antosianin. From a chemical perspective, anthocyanins have antioxidant effects. When supplemented into the body, they can prevent and fight cancer. Efficacy[9].
The fourth beauty function: Mulberry fruit is a good fruit and medicine for middle-aged and elderly people to keep fit, strengthen their body, beautify their skin, and resist aging. Many elderly people love it very much. The anthocyanins in mulberries can neutralize free radicals in the skin that are damaged by ultraviolet rays, play a role in skin care and delay the aging of skin cells. It can also improve the supply of blood cells to the skin, nourish the skin, make the skin smooth and tender, and delay aging [9].
Fifth function: laxative: Mulberry is a cooling fruit, but it is not as we literally understand it. It is cool but not cold. After eating, the excrement in the intestines accelerates peristalsis, allowing us to defecate more smoothly [9 ].
The sixth effect is to improve eyesight: Mulberries have the effect of nourishing the liver. If the liver is healthy, the eyes will be bright. The anthocyanins in the skin of mulberries can also expand the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, achieving the effect of nourishing blood and improving eyesight [9].
The seventh function is to protect the stomach: Mulberries can replenish the lack of gastric juice in the body, promote the digestive pressure of gastric juice, and accelerate digestion. At the same time, it can stimulate the gastrointestinal mucosa, promote the secretion of large amounts of intestinal hormones, increase gastrointestinal motility, and speed up metabolism. , so it has the function of nourishing and strengthening the liver and kidneys [9].
references
[1] Pu Zhaohe. Mulberries are effective in nourishing blood and treating deficiency [J]. Rural Science and Technology, 2014.
[2]Sanders TH, Mc Michael Jr RW, Hendrix KW. Occurrence of resveratrol in edible peanuts[J]. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2000(48): 1243-1246
[3] Sun Ying, Huang Mingliang, Wang Hua. Research progress on the antioxidant properties and safety of resveratrol [J]. Food Industry, 2013, 3 4(04): 177-180.
[4] Feng Jinmei. Analysis of the pharmacological effects of mulberry [J]. China Agricultural Information, 2013, No.154(13): 239.
[5] Ma Zengming. Eating mulberries skillfully can help your health[J]. Family Medicine (Second Half of the Month), 2014, No.492(05): 44
[6] Yu Lun. Development and research of mulberries [J]. Modern Food, 2019(18):67-70.
[7] Qiu Minyi, Jin Xiaoyan, Zhang Caijuan, et al. Analysis of weight loss and lipid-lowering effects and acute toxicity of RS3 type plantain taro resistant starch [J]. Chinese Journal of Experimental Prescriptions, 2019, 25 (1): 149-156
[8] Xia Chuanlin, Yin Hao, Wang Xiangjun, Wu Jinxuan, Xia Wenyin, Pu Jun, Guo Junying, Feng Jun. Research progress and comprehensive utilization of functional components of mulberries [J]. Sichuan Sericulture, 2021, 49(03): 42- 45.
[9] One mulberry and seven medicinal herbs[J]. Health Guide, 2021, 27(03): 54.
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