Morus, a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae, comprises 10-16 species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions.
The mulberry fruit is a multiple fruit, 2-3 cm (0.79-1.18 in) long. Immature fruits are white, green, or pale yellow. In most species, the fruits turn pink and then red while ripening, then dark purple or black, and have a sweet flavor when fully ripe. The fruits of the white-fruited cultivar are white when ripe; the fruit in this cultivar is also sweet but has a very mild flavor compared with the darker variety.
Mulberry extract is rich in amino acids, vitamin C and antioxidants. Among this components, the most valuable are rutoside and DNJ (1-Deoxynojimycin).
