Mulberry leaf water extract ameliorates insulin sensitivity in high fat or high sucrose diet induced overweight rats

Effects of aqueous mulberry leaf extract (Morus alba L.) on glucose and lipid metabolisms in highfat and high-sucrose diet-induced overweight animal models were examined. Supplementation of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) resulted in body weight changes in both high-fat- and high-sucroseinduced overweight rats. Plasma insulin and Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance also significantly decreased by MLE treatment (p<0.05). In addition, plasma free fatty acid level was also decreased by MLE supplementation in high-fat diet-induced overweight rat (p<0.05). MLE supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased the expression of insulin receptor genes at the transcriptional level. MLE supplementation decreased plasma insulin concentrations increased by high-fat or high-sucrose diets and improved insulin sensitivity by increasing the expression level of insulin receptor in muscle and adipose tissue.