✵The article records the herb Mulberry Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, and its botanical source: one plant species, Morus alba L. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species; the characteristics of the herb Mulberry Fruit; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Mori (Mulberry Fruit)
Pinyin Name: Sānɡ Shēn
English Name: Mulberry Fruit
Latin Name:Fructus Mori Property and Flavor: Cold in nature; sweet and sour in taste.
Brief Introduction:Fructus Mori is the dried fruit-spike of Morus alba L., used (1) to replenish Yin and nourish the blood—for the treatment of dizziness, tinnitus, and blurred vision in cases of Yin and blood deficiency—and (2) to promote fluid production and relieve thirst in cases of diabetes mellitus. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Mori, Mulberry Fruit, or Sānɡ Shēn.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Fructus Mori (Mulberry Fruit) as the dried, ripe fruit-spike of Morus alba L., a species belonging to the Moraceae family. It is a plant of the genus Morus L., family Moraceae (mulberry family), order Rosales (formerly placed in order Urticales). This commonly used species is introduced below:
(1) Morus alba L.
Botanical Description:Morus alba L. is commonly known as the mulberry tree, white mulberry, or Sānɡ Shù. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 3–15 meters tall. The bark is grayish-white with longitudinal fissures; the root bark is yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow and strongly fibrous. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles measure 1–2.5 cm in length. Leaf blades are ovate to broadly ovate, 5–20 cm long and 4–10 cm wide; the apex is acute or acuminate; the base is rounded or nearly cordate; margins are coarsely serrate or crenate, sometimes with irregular lobes. The upper surface is glabrous and glossy; the lower surface bears short hairs along the veins and has tufts of hairs in the leaf axils. Three primary veins arise from the base, joining lateral veinlets to form a reticulate pattern, which is conspicuous on the lower surface. Stipules are lanceolate and caducous.
Flowers are hermaphroditic, and dioecious; male and female inflorescences grow separately in axillary, spicate catkins. Female inflorescences are 1–2 cm long, pilose, with peduncles 5–10 mm long; male inflorescences are 1–2.5 cm long, pendulous, and sparsely covered with fine hairs. Staminate flowers have four perianth lobes and four stamens, with a sterile central staminode; pistillate flowers have four perianth lobes, connate at the base, and a bilobed stigma.
Achenes are numerous and densely clustered into ovoid or oblong aggregate fruits, 1–2.5 cm long. Immature fruits are green; upon maturity, they gradually become fleshy and turn blackish-purple or red. Seeds are small. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from May to June.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on forest edges, in thickets or open forests, and is also found in hillside meadows, grasslands, shrublands, and sandy soils. It is widely distributed across China. Native to northern China, white mulberry has been cultivated for silkworm rearing for over four thousand years. It is now widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere, including the United States, and other countries.
Growth Characteristics:Morus alba thrives in environments with strong adaptability to light, climate, and soil. It is highly cold-tolerant (surviving temperatures as low as −40 °C / −40 °F), drought-resistant, and also grows well in warm, humid conditions. It prefers deep, loose, fertile soils and tolerates mild salinity (up to 0.2% NaCl), wind, smoke, and certain toxic gases. Its root system is well-developed, with rapid growth, strong sprouting capacity, tolerance to pruning, and exceptional longevity—typically several hundred years, with some individuals living several thousand years.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is a syncarp (an aggregate fruit) composed of numerous small achenes. The dried fruit-spike is oblong-ovoid, 1–2 cm long and 6–10 mm in diameter. The base is petiolate, carpopodium (fruit stalk) measuring 1–1.5 cm in length. The surface ranges from yellowish-brown to brownish-red or dark purple and bears a short infructescence stalk. Each cluster comprises 30–60 achenes. Individual achenes are oval (egg-shaped), slightly flattened, approximately 2–5 mm long and 1 mm wide, each enclosed by four membranous, fleshy perianth lobes. The endosperm is white. The herb is oily and rich in sugars. It has a faint odor and tastes slightly sour and sweet.
Medicinal Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and replenishes blood; promotes salivation and body fluid secretion; moistens dryness; lubricates the intestines; soothes the liver; tonifies the kidneys; and extinguishes wind—thereby relieving dizziness, high fever, infantile convulsions, and epilepsy. It is indicated for: liver-Yin and kidney-Yin deficiency; dizziness and blurred vision due to liver-kidney deficiency or blood-essence insufficiency; dizziness and tinnitus (vertigo, ringing in the ears); palpitations and insomnia; restless sleep with vivid dreams (insomnia, many dreams); premature graying of hair; fluid depletion with thirst; internal heat and consumptive thirst (diabetes mellitus); intestinal dryness and constipation; blurred vision (cloudy vision); soreness and weakness of the lower back; tinnitus; scrofula (cervical lymphadenopathy); and joint stiffness.
Administration of Fructus Mori (Sānɡ Shēn):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Mori (Sānɡ Shēn)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams, usually as a water decoction. (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qian (≈ 9–15 grams); as an ointment, wine-infused preparation, or raw herb (fresh or dried). Externally: wash affected areas with a decoction infusion. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams, prepare as an ointment, wine-infused preparation, or raw herb (fresh or dried). Externally:wash affected areas with a decoction infusion.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Mori is contraindicated in diarrhea caused by spleen- and stomach-deficiency cold.
✵The article records the herb Mulberry Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, and its botanical source: one plant species, Morus alba L. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species; the characteristics of the herb Mulberry Fruit; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Sānɡ Shēn
Botanical Description: Morus alba L. is commonly known as the mulberry tree, white mulberry, or Sānɡ Shù. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 3–15 meters tall. The bark is grayish-white with longitudinal fissures; the root bark is yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow and strongly fibrous. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles measure 1–2.5 cm in length. Leaf blades are ovate to broadly ovate, 5–20 cm long and 4–10 cm wide; the apex is acute or acuminate; the base is rounded or nearly cordate; margins are coarsely serrate or crenate, sometimes with irregular lobes. The upper surface is glabrous and glossy; the lower surface bears short hairs along the veins and has tufts of hairs in the leaf axils. Three primary veins arise from the base, joining lateral veinlets to form a reticulate pattern, which is conspicuous on the lower surface. Stipules are lanceolate and caducous.
Achenes are numerous and densely clustered into ovoid or oblong aggregate fruits, 1–2.5 cm long. Immature fruits are green; upon maturity, they gradually become fleshy and turn blackish-purple or red. Seeds are small. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from May to June.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on forest edges, in thickets or open forests, and is also found in hillside meadows, grasslands, shrublands, and sandy soils. It is widely distributed across China. Native to northern China, white mulberry has been cultivated for silkworm rearing for over four thousand years. It is now widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere, including the United States, and other countries.
Growth Characteristics: Morus alba thrives in environments with strong adaptability to light, climate, and soil. It is highly cold-tolerant (surviving temperatures as low as −40 °C / −40 °F), drought-resistant, and also grows well in warm, humid conditions. It prefers deep, loose, fertile soils and tolerates mild salinity (up to 0.2% NaCl), wind, smoke, and certain toxic gases. Its root system is well-developed, with rapid growth, strong sprouting capacity, tolerance to pruning, and exceptional longevity—typically several hundred years, with some individuals living several thousand years.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is a syncarp (an aggregate fruit) composed of numerous small achenes. The dried fruit-spike is oblong-ovoid, 1–2 cm long and 6–10 mm in diameter. The base is petiolate, carpopodium (fruit stalk) measuring 1–1.5 cm in length. The surface ranges from yellowish-brown to brownish-red or dark purple and bears a short infructescence stalk. Each cluster comprises 30–60 achenes. Individual achenes are oval (egg-shaped), slightly flattened, approximately 2–5 mm long and 1 mm wide, each enclosed by four membranous, fleshy perianth lobes. The endosperm is white. The herb is oily and rich in sugars. It has a faint odor and tastes slightly sour and sweet.
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