Introduction of Sang Shen:Mulberry Fruit or Fructus Mori.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Mulberry Fruit, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Morus alba L., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Mulberry Fruit, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Fructus Mori(Mulberry Fruit).

dried purple blackish herb berries of Fructus Mori with stalks are piled together Pin Yin Name: Sānɡ Shēn.
 English Name: Mulberry Fruit.
 Latin Name: Fructus Mori.
 Property and flavor: cold in nature, tastes sweet, sour.

 Brief introduction: The herb 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, blurred vision in cases of deficiency of Yin and blood, and (2).to promote fluid production for relieving dipsosis in cases of diabetes. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Mori, Mulberry Fruit, Sānɡ Shēn.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Fructus Mori (Mulberry Fruit) as the dry ripe fruit of the Moraceae family plant species (1). Morus alba L. It is a plant of the Morus Linn genus, the Moraceae family (mulberry family) of the Urticales order. This commonly used species is introduced:

(1).Morus alba L.


 small trees of Morus alba L. grow in field Botanical description: Morus alba L is commonly known as the Mulberry Tree, White Mulberry, or Sang Shu. The plant is a deciduous shrub or small tree, the tree grows up to 3~15 meters high. The bark is gray-white, with stripe lobes, and the root bark is yellowish-brown or reddish-yellow, strong fibrous. Simple leaves are alternate, the petiole is 1~2.5 cm long; the leaf blade is ovate to broad-ovate, 5~20 cm long, and 4~10 cm wide, the apex is sharp pointed or acuminate, the base is circular or nearly cordate, coarsely serrate or crenate on the edge, sometimes with irregular lobes, the upper surface is glabrous, glossy; there are short hairs on the veins of the undersurface; piliferous in the leaf axil, 3 veins from the base cross veinlet and form reticulated lines, obvious on the under surface; the stipule is lanceolate, caducous.

 Flowers are hermaphroditic, and dioecious; male inflorescence and female inflorescence are arranged in spicate catkins, axillary; female inflorescence is 1~2 cm long, pilose, the peduncle is 5–10 mm long; male inflorescence is 1~2.5 cm long, dropping, slightly covered by fine hairs; the staminate flower has 4 perianth lobes, stamens 4, and a sterile stamen in the center; the pistillate flower has 4 perianth lobes, base connate, stigma is 2-lobed.

 small trees of Morus alba L grow in field Achenes are numerous, and densely clustered into ovoid or oblong aggregate fruit, 1~2.5 cm long, green at the initial stage, and when mature, they gradually turn pulpose, black purple, or red. The seed is small. Its flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is from May to June.

 trees of Morus alba L grow in a sunny field Ecological Environment: The tree grows in the forest edge, thickets, or open forest, also found in the hillside meadow or meadow, bush wood, and sandy land. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed from north to south areas of China, mostly in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, planted in most provinces, and large output in the southern silkworm breeding area. The species was native to northern China, and the cultivation of white mulberry for silkworms began over four thousand years ago in ancient China. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere, including the USA (the United States of America), Mexico, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Argentina, etc.

 green mulberry leaves and many silkworms Growth characteristics: The tree grows well in an environment where light, climate, and soil adaptability are strong. Cold-resistant, resistant to -40 °C (Celsius, or -40 degrees Fahrenheit) low temperatures, drought-resistant, but also in a warm and humid environment, favor the deep, loose, fertile soil, which is resistant to mild saline (0.2%), wind, smoke, and toxic gas. The roots are well-developed, grow fast, have strong sprouting power, are pruning-resistant, and have a long lifespan, generally up to several hundred years, and individual lifespan is up to several thousand years.

 dried black purple berries of mulberry fruit Characters of herbs: The herb is a syncarp (collective fruit), which is made up of many small achenes. The dried cluster is oblong oval, 1~2 cm long, and 6~10 mm in diameter. The base is petiolate, the carpopodium (fruit stalk) is 1~1.5 cm long. The surface is yellowish-brown, brownish-red to dark purple, and has a short infructescence stalk. The herb is a collective fruit, the cluster is made up of 30–60 achenes. Achenes are oval (egg-shaped), slightly flat, about 2~5 mm long, about 1 mm wide, with 4 membranous pulpose tapels (perianth lobes). The endosperm is white. It is oily and rich in sugar. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes slightly sour and sweet. The herb of a better grade has a big and pulpose grain, is violet red, and has a high sugar content.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.enhancing immune function; ②.reducing the activity of red blood cell Na,-K, -ATPase.

 Medicinal efficacy: Nourishing Yin and replenishing blood, promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid, moisturizing dryness syndrome, moisten intestines, invigorate the liver, tonifying the kidney, wind-extinguishing (relieve dizziness, high fever, infantile convulsions, epilepsy, etc.). It is indicated for deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin, dizziness and dazzled due to deficiency of liver and kidney or deficiency of blood and essence, dizziness and tinnitus (vertigo, ringing in ears), palpitation and insomnia (palpitation, lose sleep), insomnia and dreaminess (lose sleep, much dream), premature greying hair, impairment of bodyfluid and thirst, endogenous heat and wasting thirst (internal heat, consumptive thirst), dryness of the intestine and constipation, blurred vision (cloudy vision), aching of waist and tinnitus, tinnitus (ringing in ears), scrofula (lymphoid tuberculosis), inflexibility of joints, etc.  

 Administration of Fructus Mori (Sānɡ Shēn): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Fructus Mori (Sānɡ Shēn)
TCM Books: ①.Internally: 9~15 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 3~5 qian (about 9~15 grams);prepare an ointment, infusing in wine, or take rawly. Externally:wash with infusion; ③.Internally:water decoction, 10~15 grams, prepare an ointment, infusing in wine, or take rawly. Externally:wash with infusion.
 Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions:the herb Fructus Mori should not be used in conditions diarrhea due to deficiency cold in spleen and stomach.

 

 
  

 

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References:
  • 1.Introduction of Sang Shen:Mulberry Fruit or Fructus Mori.

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