Abstract
Morus nigra L., popularly known as blackberry, mulberry or blackberry bush, is a plant species
widely used by folk medicine. Although there are few scientific studies that denote
its therapeutic features, an important highlight of black mulberry is the recurrent
use of tea leaves in popular environment for treatment of climacteric because it is
considered a source of substances with estrogenic activity, which, if deficient, decreases
osteoblastic action. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effect
of the infusion of the leaves of M. nigra L. on bone repair experimental models. Twenty female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), ∼ 100 days old, were submitted to fracture with bone loss in the left fibula. After
that, they ingested tea leaves of M. nigra L. for 30 days without interruption. The animals suffered euthanasia after the treatment
period. The results showed a significant healing of fractures in all animals that
ingested the tea, when compared with other groups. In this way, it is possible to
suggest that M. nigra L. tea is able to trigger a positive response in bone repair mechanism; however,
it is not possible to state at what level this positive interference occurs, since
mechanisms of its action have not yet been elucidated, thus requiring more specific
studies on the phytotherapeutic effects of this plant.
Keywords
healing bone - morus - bone fracture - medicinal plants
