Antibacterial Activity of Mulberry Fruit

Introduction

In medicine and science, there is an unstoppable opportunity for the medical practitioners and scientist to discover and unravel the truth beyond life. The information that can be gathered is available in the environment. Obviously, because of the perseverance of the medical professionals, there is an improvement in the quality in living as it is viewed in health care. In the meantime, there are plants that are placed under the investigation of their antibacterial or antimicrobial activity.

Background and Problem Statement

The purpose of discovering the antibacterial activity is to give idea on schemes presented in the subjects. Recognizing the behavior of an element in destroying or suppressing the growth or reproduction of bacteria can be possible through the use of the agents and/or chemicals. In recent years, various plants are used as a subject to medical experiments. In particular, the mulberry plant is recognized as one of the intriguing subjects which the extracts can be used in the healthcare settings and can be useful for future purposes.

Research Aim and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to describe the antibacterial activity or antimicrobial activity of mulberry fruit. In order to facilitate the success of the study, there are three objectives that should be satisfied. First, is to recognize the substance incorporated in mulberry fruit. Second is to describe the activity of the bacteria with the use of the chemicals and other extracts. And third, is to create a comprehensive analysis through viewing the process and methods.

Literature Review

The antibacterial activity and its result are based on the phenolic content, acids, radical activities, and anti-proliferative properties. The mulberry that bears the scientific name Morus alba L., were investigated through discovering the parts of the plants. The extracts can be found through the mulberry plant’s roots, leaves, branches, and fruit. Mulberry fruits and its extracts are close to the radical activity of its branches, roots, and as well as leafs (Khan, et al., 2010). As an effect on human, the cell lines are described to be different and connected to the concentrations of the extracts and fermentation. Some part of the mulberry plant is concluded to be part of herbal medicine because of its properties. This recommendation is strengthened from the evidence that the plant has a preventive and therapeutic component based on the antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. Because mulberry is a fast-growing plant, it is also valued as a source of feeding for the cultivated worms. The other parts of the plants such as the leaves are served as the feeds for the dairy animals (cow, goat, and the like) to improve the milk production. In the investigation of mulberry fruit, the recent result shows that the available solvents are not effective. The butanol solvent (which is found in the fruit) is only effective in the three studies done through the leaf, root and fruits and determines the antibacterial activity (Chon, et al., 2009). With the help of the extraction methods, the mulberry juices showed no signs or effects on the growth of the bacteria but the pomace extracts inhibited the growth of other kinds of microbacteria. The water and ethanol extracts, or dark and white mulberry, had no difference in the inhibitory effect. The antibacterial activity in the plants has a natural defense mechanism against the microbial infections. In the experiments done in the fruits including the waste parts like the peel, seeds, stems, and flesh, are described to be a good source of ingredients in processing for other compounds such as essential oils. In most of the cases, whole fruits were extracted and little attention was paid to the by-products of juice making (Galgóczy, et al., 2009).

Methodology

The suggested method in the study is the use of secondary information. The information can be gathered from the use of medical reports, laboratory institution, case studies, or medical journals. The information can be viewed from the experience and applied observation. The requirements that should be satisfied are through collecting and identifying the composition of plant materials. The other requirements are composed of the extracts, phytochemical analysis, resins, alkaloids, amino acids, tannin, glycosides, flavonoids, and the test for proteins, carbohydrates, and microorganisms. All the gathered information is aligned according to the objectives and fashioned in a comprehensive analysis.

Conclusion

Investigating the components of the plants as well as the valuable usages is a great adventure for the scientist and the other medical practitioners. With that step, they can provide the quality of health available for all humans.

References:

Chon, S-U., Kim, Y-M., Park, Y-J., Heo, B-G., Park, Y-S., & Gorinstein, S., (2009) Antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of methanol extracts from raw and fermented parts of mulberry plant (Morus alba L.), Eur Food Res Technol, 230:231–237 [Online] Available at: http://www.bashanfoundation.org/shela/shelamorusalba.pdf [Accessed 08 July 2010].

Galgóczy, L., Hevér, T., Orosz, L., Krisch, J., Vágvölgyi, C., Tölgyesi, M., & Papp, T., (2009) Growth inhibition effect of fruit juices and pomace extracts on the enteric pathogens Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella ser. Typhimurium, The Internet Journal of Microbiology, 7(1) [Online] Available at: http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_microbiology/volume_7_number_1_31/article/growth-inhibition-effect-of-fruit-juices-and-pomace-extracts-on-the-enteric-pathogens-campylobacter-jejuni-and-salmonella-ser-typhimurium.html [Accessed 08 July 2010].

Khan, R., Zakir, M., Afaq, S.H., Latif, A., & Khan, A.U., (2010) Activity of solvent extracts of Prosopis spicigera, Zingiber officinale and Trachyspermum ammi against multidrug resistant bacterial and fungal strains, J Infect Dev Ctries, 4(5):292-300 [Online] Available at: http://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/viewDownloadInterstitial/621/389 [Accessed 08 July 2010].