Effects of Morus alba infusion on biochemical, toxicological, and behavioral parameters in ovariectomized rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.16436Keywords:
Menopause, Medicinal Plants, Estrogens, Morus, OvariectomyAbstract
Morus alba, popularly known as White mulberry, is traditionally used for the treatment of conditions frequently associated with menopause. To investigate its potential effects on these symptoms, this study first aimed to establish the in vitro antioxidant activity of M. alba infusion. Subsequently, the aim was to assess whether consumption of the M. alba infusion induces biochemical, hematological, antioxidant, and behavioral changes in an animal model of menopause. For this purpose, an experimental study was conducted with 33 Wistar rats, 32 weeks of age. The animals were randomized into two groups: ovariectomized (OVX) and sham surgery (SHAM), and after 12 weeks, began to receive an infusion of M. alba leaves (M. alba, OVX+M. alba) or water ad libitum (Control, OVX) for 12 weeks. The M. alba leaf infusion exhibited in vitro antioxidant potential. Estrogen deprivation led to increased body weight, regardless of the administration of M. alba infusion. In this study, it was shown that even at low concentrations the infusion exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity without evidence of overt toxicity and showed a potential anxiolytic effect. Thus, although many studies show that the plant has therapeutic potential for the treatment of menopause-associated disorders, in this model no changes were observed in biochemical or oxidative parameters.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Brenda da Silva, Gabriele Maria Callegaro Serafini, Paola Andressa das Chagas Barella, Ana Paula Fell, Ana Gabriela Tamiozzo, João Vinícius Müller Kaufmann, Felipe Rafael Passos, Matias Nunes Frizzo, Evelise Moraes Berlezi, Thiago Gomes Heck
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