Phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, mineral content and antimicrobial activity of fresh fruit extracts of Morus alba L.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the content of phenolic compounds (phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins) of Morus alba L. fruit (white mulberry) as well as the antioxidant activities of its extract, heavy metals content and antimicrobial activity. The contents of phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity of extracts of white mulberry in the following solutes: water, ethanol, ethanol water (1 : 1, v/v), methanol, methanol water (1 : 1, v/v), acetone and acetone water (1:1, v/v), were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Total phenol compounds in the extracts varied from 629.7 mg.kg(-1) to 4326.0 mg.kg(-1) (expressed as gallic acid equivalents) of fresh mulberry fruit in acetone water (1:1, v/v) and in ethanolic extract, respectively. The contents of flavonoids ranged from 290.0 mg.kg(-1) to 1378.6 mg.kg(-1) of fresh fruit (expressed as catechin equivalent). The fruit extracts (1 ml) showed high antioxidant activity with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical transformation value of 87.2% in methanolic extract. Anthocyanins were not found. The fruit of white mulberry contained the highest amount of iron and the lowest amount of lead. Some of the tested extracts showed antimicrobial activity.