Phenolic antioxidants of Morus nigra roots, and antitumor potential of morusin

Phenolic compounds are of considerable biomedical interest due to their antioxidant properties and potential in the prevention and possibly treatment of many chronic diseases. the fruits, leaves and root bark of morus nigra (moraceae), the black mulberry tree, have a long history of use for various therapeutic purposes in traditional medicine worldwide. the roots of the plant are known to be a rich source of phenolic compounds with a particularly high chemical diversity. this mini-review compiles the currently available knowledge on phenolic compounds reported from morus nigra roots, and provides a brief overview on the antioxidant activity with a focus on the available in vivo evidence. morusin, a major phenolic antioxidant of the root bark, has attracted a rapidly increasing scientific interest for its versatile and potent antitumor properties; recent developments in this regard, including morusin’s promising activity against cancer stem cells, are also discussed in the paper.