Mulberry Fruit Extract

Q: Does mulberry fruit extract lower blood sugar?

In Unilever-run trials, 0.37 to 1.5 g added to a rice meal lowered the 2-hour glucose rise by roughly 11 to 27% in healthy adults. These were single-meal tests; long-term effects are unknown.

Q: Is mulberry fruit extract safe?

Single-meal trials reported low gastrointestinal symptoms and no adverse events. No federal or regulatory safety review covers it, and NCCIH notes supplements may interact with medications.

Q: Does mulberry fruit extract interact with diabetes medicines?

Unknown. No study has tested it alongside any medicine; the only diabetes trial enrolled 24 adults who were not taking glucose-lowering drugs and measured single meals. NCCIH notes that supplements may interact with medications, so tell your health care providers about any you use.

Q: Is it the same as mulberry leaf extract?

No. They are separate ingredients; a 2020 trial tested fruit (1.5 g) and leaf (1.0 g) extracts side by side, and both lowered post-meal glucose.

Q: What does DNJ have to do with it?

DNJ is the compound credited with slowing starch digestion. Pure DNJ at the extract's dose (2.90 mg) was bioequivalent to 0.75 g of extract, though the extract worked more strongly.

Q: What about type 2 diabetes?

A 24-person pilot in unmedicated adults with type 2 diabetes found 0.75 g lowered post-meal glucose by 22.4%; 0.37 g had no clear effect. It did not test people on diabetes medicines.

Also called mulberry fruit, MFE, Morus fruit extract, mulberry berry extract.

Best grade B across 7 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked Oct 21, 2026

The short answer

From 8 sources

Mulberry fruit extract is added to starchy meals to blunt the rise in blood sugar. In Unilever-run trials, 0.37 to 1.5 g added to rice or porridge lowered the 2-hour glucose response by roughly 11 to 27% and insulin by up to 35%. These are single-meal effects; no long-term or independent trials exist.

Every graded outcome on this page

7 rows · line = participants

Grade BPost-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response)Post-meal glucosen 168
Grade CPost-meal glucose across four rice typesPost-meal glucosen 120
Grade CPost-meal glucose: extract vs pure DNJPost-meal glucosen 84
Grade CPost-meal glucose: mulberry fruit vs 7 other plant extractsPost-meal glucosen 65
Grade DPost-meal glucose in type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesn 24
Grade DGlucose absorption rate (dual-isotope study)Mechanismn 12
Grade DBlood pressure and triglycerides in adults with obesityBlood pressuren 12
4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter

Key facts

What it is: A specified mulberry fruit extract; 0.75 g supplied 2.90 mg of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ)⁶
Main finding: 0.37 to 1.5 g added to a rice meal with about 50 g of carbohydrate cut the 2-hour glucose response by 20 to 27% in healthy adults (two trials of 84)¹
Type 2 diabetes: In 24 unmedicated adults with type 2 diabetes, 0.75 g lowered post-meal glucose by 22.4%; 0.37 g did not clearly differ from control⁵
How it works: A 12-man isotope study found slower glucose uptake from the gut, with no change in glucose disposal or the body's own glucose production⁴
Funding: Every extract trial in our sources was run by Unilever researchers or sponsored by Unilever^1,2,3,4,5,6
Agency safety reviews: No ODS, NCCIH, LactMed, LiverTox, Health Canada or EMA source covers mulberry fruit extract⁸

What it is

Mulberry fruit extract is a concentrated extract of mulberry fruit; the version tested in trials contains 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ).

How it works

Proposed

Trial authors attribute the effect mainly to DNJ inhibiting intestinal alpha-glucosidase, which slows starch breakdown. In humans, the extract delayed glucose absorption without changing glucose disposal or endogenous production, and pure DNJ at the extract's dose was bioequivalent to the extract, though other extract components may contribute.^4,6

Forms, side by side

2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.

Mulberry Fruit Extract forms compared

2 forms

Mulberry Fruit Extract forms compared: 2 forms by 3 attributes. Empty cells are labelled No data yet, or Not graded in the evidence row.
2 forms	Added to a meal	Concentrated mulberry fruit drink
Absorption in people	Plasma DNJ was higher after the extract than after an equal dose of pure DNJ.⁶	No human absorption data in our sources.⁷
GI tolerance	Gastrointestinal symptoms were uniformly low; breath hydrogen rose only at 1.5 g in rice porridge.¹	No changes in blood clotting indicators over 6 weeks in a 12-person pilot.⁷
Studied for	Post-meal glucose and insulin (0.37 to 1.5 g per meal)	Blood pressure and lipids (one small pilot)

Mulberry fruit extract added to a meal
Absorption in people
Plasma DNJ was higher after the extract than after an equal dose of pure DNJ.⁶
GI tolerance
Gastrointestinal symptoms were uniformly low; breath hydrogen rose only at 1.5 g in rice porridge.¹
Studied for
Post-meal glucose and insulin (0.37 to 1.5 g per meal)
Concentrated mulberry fruit drink
Absorption in people
No human absorption data in our sources.⁷
GI tolerance
No changes in blood clotting indicators over 6 weeks in a 12-person pilot.⁷
Studied for
Blood pressure and lipids (one small pilot)

What the human research says

Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.

Trial map

7 graded outcomes, largest study first

All 7 graded outcomes found an improvement. The largest, a 2023 randomized trial of 168 people on Post-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response), found an improvement.

By ageBy sizeTable

AgeAll ages

Bar: the ages a study enrolled (running to the edge when it states no upper or lower limit). Dot: only a mean age, counted as near your age within 5 years. Tick: the mean age inside a range.

1Post-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response): improved, 20–50

7Glucose absorption rate (dual-isotope study): improved, mean age 24.9

6Blood pressure and triglycerides in adults with obesity: improved, 30–55

4Post-meal glucose: mulberry fruit vs 7 other plant extracts: improved, mean age 31.2

5Post-meal glucose in type 2 diabetes: improved, mean age 51

2Post-meal glucose across four rice types: improved, ages not stated

3Post-meal glucose: extract vs pure DNJ: improved, ages not stated

1Post-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response)

Improved · Grade B · RCT, 168 people, 2023

Healthy Indian men and women aged 20 to 50 (two trials of 84)

Dose, result and source

Every graded outcome on this page, largest study first
Outcome	Found	People	Study	Who was studied
Post-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response)	Improved	168	Grade B · RCT, 2023	Healthy Indian men and women aged 20 to 50 (two trials of 84)
Post-meal glucose across four rice types	Improved	120	Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2023	Healthy, normal-weight Indian adults
Post-meal glucose: extract vs pure DNJ	Improved	84	Grade C · Crossover RCT, 2025	Healthy adults
Post-meal glucose: mulberry fruit vs 7 other plant extracts	Improved	65	Grade C · RCT, 2020	Healthy adults (72 enrolled, 65 analysed); each received control plus 4 of 8 extracts
Post-meal glucose in type 2 diabetes	Improved	24	Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2024	Unmedicated adults with type 2 diabetes (crossover)
Blood pressure and triglycerides in adults with obesity	Improved	12	Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2024	Adults with obesity aged 30 to 55 (12 completers)
Glucose absorption rate (dual-isotope study)	Improved	12	Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2023	Healthy young men

Every graded row

7 rows

Form tested

Showing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.

Grade BPost-meal glucose after a rice meal (dose-response)Post-meal glucoseGlucose AUC -20 to -27%RCT · 2 studies
n 168 · 2023

Improved Trial 1: every dose from 0.37 to 1.5 g lowered 2-hour glucose by 22.9 to 27.2% and insulin by 14.0 to 34.6% vs control. Trial 2: only 0.37 g was effective (glucose -20.4%, insulin -17.0%); 0.04 and 0.12 g were not. Gastrointestinal symptoms were uniformly low.

Design: RCT, 2 studies, n = 168, 2023
Population: Healthy Indian men and women aged 20 to 50 (two trials of 84)
Form: Mulberry fruit extract added to boiled rice or rice porridge
Dose: 0.04 to 1.5 g with about 50 g carbohydrate
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 1 · PubMed 35272722 (opens PubMed)

Grade CPost-meal glucose across four rice typesPost-meal glucoseGlucose AUC -11.4%Crossover RCT
n 120 · 2023

Improved Across all rice types the extract lowered 2-hour glucose by 11.4% (P < 0.003) and insulin by 10.1% (P < 0.001); for individual rice types the glucose effect was significant for one of four.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 120, 2023
Population: Healthy, normal-weight Indian adults
Form: Mulberry fruit extract added to boiled rice
Dose: 0.37 g with about 50 g carbohydrate
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 3 · PubMed 37272629 (opens PubMed)

Grade CPost-meal glucose: extract vs pure DNJPost-meal glucoseImprovedCrossover RCT
n 84 · 2025

Improved Pure DNJ was bioequivalent to the extract for lowering post-meal glucose (ratio 0.903, 90% CI 0.801 to 1.019); both lowered glucose and insulin vs placebo, more strongly with the extract.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 84, 2025
Population: Healthy adults
Form: 0.75 g mulberry fruit extract (2.90 mg DNJ) vs 2.90 mg pure DNJ vs placebo
Dose: 0.75 g with a 50 g-carbohydrate rice meal
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 6 · PubMed 40419090 (opens PubMed)

Grade CPost-meal glucose: mulberry fruit vs 7 other plant extractsPost-meal glucoseImprovedRCT
n 65 · 2020

Improved Mulberry fruit extract was one of three extracts (with apple and mulberry leaf) that significantly lowered 2-hour glucose (range across the three -24.1 to -38.1%) and insulin; gastrointestinal discomfort did not differ from control.

Design: RCT, n = 65, 2020
Population: Healthy adults (72 enrolled, 65 analysed); each received control plus 4 of 8 extracts
Form: Mulberry fruit extract in rice porridge
Dose: 1.5 g with about 50 g carbohydrate
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 2 · PubMed 32647531 (opens PubMed)

Grade DPost-meal glucose in type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesGlucose AUC -22.4% (0.75 g)Pilot RCT
n 24 · 2024

Improved 0.75 g lowered 2-hour glucose by 22.4% (95% CI -38.6 to -1.9%) and insulin by 17.5%; changes with 0.37 g (glucose -8.2%, insulin -9.6%) had confidence intervals crossing zero. No adverse events or gastrointestinal discomfort.

Design: Pilot RCT, n = 24, 2024
Population: Unmedicated adults with type 2 diabetes (crossover)
Form: Mulberry fruit extract added to rice
Dose: 0.37 or 0.75 g with about 50 g carbohydrate
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 5 · PubMed 39064619 (opens PubMed)

Grade DGlucose absorption rate (dual-isotope study)MechanismImprovedCrossover RCT
n 12 · 2023

Improved The extract delayed time to 50% glucose absorption by 10.2 minutes and lowered the 2-hour glucose response by 11%, with no significant change in glucose disposal or endogenous glucose production.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 12, 2023
Population: Healthy young men
Form: Mulberry fruit extract in 13C-labelled wheat porridge
Dose: 0.75 g
Duration: Single meals
Source: Reference 4 · PubMed 36944719 (opens PubMed)

Grade DBlood pressure and triglycerides in adults with obesityBlood pressureImprovedCrossover RCT
n 12 · 2024

Improved Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and CRP were lower during the mulberry drink period than the placebo period; body composition did not change.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 12, 2024
Population: Adults with obesity aged 30 to 55 (12 completers)
Form: Concentrated mulberry fruit drink (KPS-MB-42-1 cultivar)
Dose: 100 g/day
Duration: 6 weeks
Source: Reference 7 · PubMed 39770957 (opens PubMed)

What the numbers add up to

Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.

There is a dose floor

Across the two dose-response trials, the lowest effective dose was 0.37 g; 0.12 g and below had no significant effect.¹

Studied doses

Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.

Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.

Doses studied in human trials

Doses studied in human trials ranged from 0.37 g to 1.5 g of mulberry fruit extract added to a single meal with about 50 g of carbohydrate; 0.04 g and 0.12 g had no significant effect, and no extract trial tested daily use over weeks.^1,2,5

Interactions and safety

Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.

Interactions

0 agents

None found in our sources.

Check with what you take

Kept on this device only

Add what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Mulberry Fruit Extract and your picks, and between your picks.

Add a supplement or medicine

Most cited:

Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Mulberry Fruit Extract.

Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.

Who should be careful

4 groups

People on medicines: No ODS, NCCIH, LactMed, LiverTox, Health Canada or EMA source covers mulberry fruit extract, and no study has tested it with any medicine, so interaction data are lacking. NCCIH notes that dietary supplements may interact with medications.⁸
Type 2 diabetes: The only diabetes data are single-meal tests in 24 unmedicated adults; they do not show long-term effects or what happens alongside diabetes medicines.⁵
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children: No trial studied these groups, and NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.⁸
Before surgery: NCCIH advises telling your health care providers about all supplements well before an operation.⁸

How to read the label

What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.

How to read the label

3 checks

Fruit vs leaf

Mulberry fruit extract and mulberry leaf extract are separate ingredients; a 2020 trial tested 1.5 g of fruit extract and 1.0 g of leaf extract side by side.²

With the meal

Every extract trial added the extract to the meal itself and measured glucose over the next 2 hours.^1,3

DNJ content

The tested extract supplied 2.90 mg DNJ per 0.75 g. NCCIH notes that store-bought supplements may differ in important ways from products tested in studies.^6,8

Have the bottle? Photograph its Supplement Facts panel and see each line, mulberry fruit extract included, beside the doses and forms the trials used in Label X-Ray.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.

Common questions

6 answers

Does mulberry fruit extract lower blood sugar?

In Unilever-run trials, 0.37 to 1.5 g added to a rice meal lowered the 2-hour glucose rise by roughly 11 to 27% in healthy adults. These were single-meal tests; long-term effects are unknown.^1,3

Is mulberry fruit extract safe?

Single-meal trials reported low gastrointestinal symptoms and no adverse events. No federal or regulatory safety review covers it, and NCCIH notes supplements may interact with medications.^1,5,8

Does mulberry fruit extract interact with diabetes medicines?

Unknown. No study has tested it alongside any medicine; the only diabetes trial enrolled 24 adults who were not taking glucose-lowering drugs and measured single meals. NCCIH notes that supplements may interact with medications, so tell your health care providers about any you use.^5,8

Is it the same as mulberry leaf extract?

No. They are separate ingredients; a 2020 trial tested fruit (1.5 g) and leaf (1.0 g) extracts side by side, and both lowered post-meal glucose.²

What does DNJ have to do with it?

DNJ is the compound credited with slowing starch digestion. Pure DNJ at the extract's dose (2.90 mg) was bioequivalent to 0.75 g of extract, though the extract worked more strongly.⁶

What about type 2 diabetes?

A 24-person pilot in unmedicated adults with type 2 diabetes found 0.75 g lowered post-meal glucose by 22.4%; 0.37 g had no clear effect. It did not test people on diabetes medicines.⁵

Sources

8 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.

Sources cited on this page

8 sources

1Dose-response efficacy of mulberry fruit extract for reducing post-prandial blood glucose and insulin responses: randomised trial evidence in healthy adults.RCT Br J Nutr, 2023 · PMID 35272722
2The effect of 8 plant extracts and combinations on post-prandial blood glucose and insulin responses in healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial.RCT Nutr Metab (Lond), 2020 · PMID 32647531
3Effect of mulberry fruit extract on post-prandial glycaemic and insulinemic responses to different rice types: a randomised trial in healthy adults.Crossover RCT Br J Nutr, 2023 · PMID 37272629
4Effect of mulberry fruit extract on glucose fluxes after a wheat porridge meal: a dual isotope study in healthy human subjects.Crossover RCT Eur J Clin Nutr, 2023 · PMID 36944719
5Effect of Low-Dose Mulberry Fruit Extract on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses: A Randomized Pilot Trial in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes.Pilot RCT Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 39064619
6Bioequivalence of Mulberry Fruit Extract and 1-Deoxynojirimycin for Postprandial Blood Glucose Lowering: A Randomized Trial in Humans.Crossover RCT J Nutr, 2025 · PMID 40419090
7Nutraceutical Properties of Thai Mulberry (Morus alba L.) and Their Effects on Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Individuals with Obesity: A Randomized, Single-Blind Crossover Trial.Crossover RCT Nutrients, 2024 · PMID 39770957
8Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov

What changed

Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.

Change log

2 entries

Dated changes to this page
Date	Change	Who and why
Oct 21, 2026safety, FAQ	Added an FAQ and a safety note stating that no interaction study exists (the type 2 diabetes pilot, PMID 39064619, enrolled unmedicated adults). PubMed searched 2023–2026 for new mulberry fruit trials and meta-analyses: none beyond those already cited (the 2023 meta-analysis covers mulberry leaf, a different ingredient).	Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit
Oct 15, 2026all	Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (and, where noted, the full text for funding and participant counts). Industry funding disclosed: all six extract papers are Unilever-run or Unilever-sponsored. No agency source covers mulberry fruit extract, so safety text cites NCCIH's Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Where to buy: we didn’t list a product; none of the stores we checked on 2026-10-15 sells it.	Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page

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