Promotion of glucose uptake by mulberry leaf extract and its active component 1-deoxynojirimycin in C2C12 cells

Abstract Mulberry leaf extract (MLE) is a proprietary extract derived from the leaves of Morus alba, contains high concentrations of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), which inhibits intestinal glucose uptake and improves glucose tolerance. The present study investigated the impact of MLE and DNJ on the inhibition of alpha glucosidase and enhanced glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner in C2C12 cells. This effect was accompanied by changes in the expression of key glucose transporter proteins, such as glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), the phosphorylation states of insulin receptor substrate (p-IRS, ) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), which regulate glucose metabolism. These findings highlight the distinct metabolic effects of MLE and DNJ on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells, indicating their potential as natural compounds for modulating glucose metabolism. Further investigation of the molecular pathways involved and in vivo studies are required to validate and expand to fully understand their potential therapeutic applications.