Mulberry Morus alba L., Moraceae, leaves are used in Brazil medicines against fever, to protect the liver, to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol. The aqueous extract of leaves of M. alba given by oral route to hyperlipidemic rats with diet enriched by cholesterol (1% by weight) with dose of 150 mg/kg/day for forteen days reduced significantly by 55,01% the plasma triglycerides level. Therefore, the treatment not only decreased the plasma level of triglycerides but also affected a hepatic enzyme tested supportting the fact that the extracts of Morus alba that have been used by folk medicine have a great potential to be further developed into a phytomedicine.
Morus alba; hyperlipidemic rats; triglycerides
