natural-therapeutics
Natural therapeutics is the field focused on developing medicinal treatments from plant-derived compounds and botanical sources. For plant science, this work is significant because it drives investigation into plant biochemistry and secondary metabolism—how plants produce bioactive molecules with therapeutic properties. Understanding these mechanisms advances both pharmaceutical development and sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants.
PubMed · 2026-04-24
A standardized extract of mulberry polyphenols (ABRU) both stimulates bone-building cells and suppresses bone-dissolving cells, improving bone density by ~20% in an aging mouse model. This is the first study to scientifically validate the traditional Chinese medicine claim that mulberry 'strengthens bones and muscles.'
Mulberry polyphenol extract doubled osteoblast (bone-building cell) proliferation within 24 hours and increased mineralization two-fold after 14 days in lab experiments.
In aging mice, oral mulberry extract improved bone mineral density by ~20%, increased trabecular bone area by 24.5%, and reduced bone-dissolving cell count by 58.4%.
The mechanism works through the PPARG/SOST signaling axis: mulberry compounds suppress a gene (PPARG) that normally inhibits bone formation, which in turn activates the Wnt pathway to promote bone growth.
