Efficient extraction of mulberry leaf flavonoids using a deep eutectic solvent and anti-cancer activity

Could a humble mulberry leaf, powered by a green solvent, become a new weapon against gastric cancer? Scientists just extracted its flavonoids more efficiently than ever before.

Mulberry leaves are not just food for silkworms. They harbor flavonoids—natural compounds with real medicinal promise. But getting them out has always been messy. Traditional solvents are effective, but hardly green. Enter deep eutectic solvents (DES): an emerging, eco-friendly alternative that behaves like a liquid but packs a powerful extraction punch. In this study, researchers paired DES with ultrasound to pull flavonoids from mulberry leaves with remarkable efficiency. The winning mix, choline chloride-triethylene glycol, achieved an extraction yield of 22.13 mg/g—significantly higher than conventional organic solvents. That’s a big leap for sustainable chemistry. But the story doesn’t stop at extraction. The team identified the flavonoid components via UPLC-MS and tested their anti-cancer potential against gastric cancer cells in vitro. Using a battery of assays—CCK8, EDU, colony formation, and cell cycle analysis—they confirmed the extract’s ability to curb cancer cell growth. Network pharmacology then pinpointed two core components, Rha and Pec, as key players. Molecular docking predicted how these components bind to their target proteins, and lab tests backed it up. The result? A green extraction method that not only boosts yield but also reveals promising anti-cancer activity. For a disease as deadly as gastric cancer, this is a fresh, hopeful perspective.

Key Points

• Green DES with ultrasound boosts mulberry flavonoid yield to 22.13 mg/g.
• Extract shows anti-gastric cancer activity in multiple in vitro assays.
• Core components Rha and Pec identified via network pharmacology and docking.