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The incident arose from the unfortunate death of Lori McClintock, wife of US Congressman Tom McClintock from Northern California. In late 2021, she passed away due to gastroenteritis and dehydration, complications attributed to her consumption of white mulberry leaf, a plant widely considered safe. Her death certificate was issued on December 20, 2021. This plant, typically derived from the dried leaves of the mulberry tree (Morus alba L.), is commonly used as an herbal remedy in the United States to treat various conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol.
“The “Taiwan Qingguan No. 1 Concentrated Preparation,” commonly used for pandemic prevention, is formulated with 10 Chinese herbal medicines, including Huangqin, Yushengcao, Bei Banlangen, Gualou Shi, Jingjie, Bohhe, Sangye, Houpu, Zhi Gancao, and Fangfeng. Among these, Sangye (mulberry leaf) is also included. According to the 4th edition of the “Taiwan Pharmacopoeia” in 2021 ([已移除無效網址]), Sangye is the dried leaf of the mulberry plant (Morus alba L.), which belongs to the Moraceae family. From this, we can see that the Sangye commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and the white mulberry leaf in the US nutritional supplement have the same scientific name and therefore refer to the same plant.
Mulberry leaf, when used as a medicinal herb, often appears wrinkled and broken. Intact leaves, however, have a petiole and when fully expanded, are broadly ovate. They are typically 8-15 cm long and 7-13 cm wide, with an acuminate apex and a truncate, rounded, or cordate base. The leaf margin is usually serrated or bluntly serrated, and may have irregular divisions. The upper surface of the leaf is yellowish-green, while the lower surface is slightly lighter. The veins are prominent, with sparse hairs on the veins and tufts of hair at the base of the veins. The texture is brittle, with a slight odor and a slightly bitter taste. While adulterations are less common, poplar leaves are sometimes mistakenly substituted. The primary way to distinguish between the two is by examining the areoles. Areoles are the small areas enclosed by the minor veins. In mulberry leaves, the areoles are relatively uniform in size, with nearly equal lengths and widths. In contrast, poplar leaves have areoles that vary greatly in size and shape, with significant differences between the lengths and widths. Additionally, mulberry leaves harvested after frost should be yellow or light yellow in color. If both surfaces are green or if there are dark black leaves, caution should be exercised.
A review study published in the Mulberry Leaf Journal in 2022 indicated that mulberry leaves have shown promising effects in terms of antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, weight loss, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties (https://reurl.cc/RXY42D). In traditional Chinese medicine, it is commonly used to treat conditions such as wind-heat colds and dizziness caused by liver yang rising.
In general, mulberry leaves are relatively safe when used as a traditional Chinese medicine or food ingredient in normal dosages. Some countries have developed mulberry leaf into dietary supplements due to its beneficial effects on weight loss and blood sugar control. However, consumers should verify the source of the raw materials and ensure that the manufacturing process complies with relevant food safety regulations when purchasing such products. Additionally, it is crucial to ensure correct usage and avoid excessive dosage to guarantee safety.
Taiwan Qingguan No. 1 Concentrated Preparation” contains ten herbal ingredients, including mulberry leaves. The source of these herbal materials must comply with the relevant regulations specified in the “Taiwan Pharmacopoeia” issued by the Department of Chinese Medicine. In addition to testing for heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, the content of sulfur dioxide is also tested before the materials can be used as raw materials by pharmaceutical factories. Pharmaceutical factories in Taiwan must comply with government regulations during the manufacturing process, and some have even passed international pharmaceutical (PIC/S GMP) standards. The combination of these ten herbs is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s syndrome differentiation and herbal formula compatibility. Furthermore, it is supported by clinical trials and has been published in international journals. Therefore, the public can use it with confidence.。
Image provided by Professor Zhang Xianzhe’s ‘Authentic Medicinal Materials Atlas’