Mulberry Extract Shows Promise in Treating Atopic Dermatitis

White mulberry (Morus alba L.), long celebrated for its ethnobotanical applications, may hold the key to alleviating symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD), or eczema, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. It highlights the potential of mulberry fruit extract to improve skin health and reduce reliance on chemical medications.

Researchers prepared a water-in-oil ointment containing 0.5% white mulberry extract, derived via butanol extraction. The study, involving 110 participants, divided them into 3 groups: patient-treatment, normal-treatment, and patient-placebo. Over 4 to 6 weeks, biomarkers, such as granzyme B, vitamin E, and lipid profiles, were analyzed before and after treatment. Additionally, antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus—a bacterium linked to eczema—was tested.

Results revealed significant improvements in skin ulceration among the patient-treatment group, along with healthier biomarker levels resembling those of non-eczema individuals. The extract also inhibited S. aureus growth, underscoring its antibacterial properties.

“The findings suggest that Morus alba extract holds promise as a therapeutic intervention for atopic dermatitis, demonstrating significant improvements in key biomarkers towards levels observed in healthy individuals,” researchers noted, adding that its therapeutic impact on eczema-associated biomarkers and bacterial infection warrants further exploration.

Reference

Ezairjawi MSM, Ünüvar ÖC, Akben C, Taha EM, Ünlü ES. Mulberry's healing touch: exploring ethnobotanical roots and medicinal potentials in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2025;337(Pt 3):118981. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118981