Moranoline

Bio-Activity Analysis
Post-Meal Glucose Response (AUC)
SCIENTIFIC DATA VISUALIZATION
Health Benefits & Sources
Why You Need It
- Balances Blood Sugar: It prevents sharp spikes in blood glucose after eating starchy foods.
- Aids Weight Management: By delaying digestion, it promotes a longer feeling of fullness (satiety).
- Natural & Non-Toxic: It is a plant-derived compound with a long history of safe use in traditional medicine.
Deep Dive
Moranoline functions as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. In plain English, imagine your digestive enzymes as scissors cutting long starch chains into simple sugar molecules (glucose). Moranoline dulls these scissors slightly. This means carbohydrates take longer to break down, and the resulting glucose enters your bloodstream more slowly and steadily. This mechanism is similar to how prescription drugs like Acarbose work, but Moranoline offers a gentler, natural alternative derived directly from food sources. This steady release of energy prevents the energy crashes often associated with high-carb meals and reduces the likelihood of excess sugar being stored immediately as fat.
Natural Food Sources
While Moranoline is available as a concentrated supplement, you can find it naturally in specific plant foods. The highest concentrations are found in the leaves of the mulberry tree, which are often consumed as a tea.
| Food Source | Part Used | Approximate Moranoline Content |
|---|---|---|
| White Mulberry | Leaves | High (Standardized extracts range from 1-5%) |
| Mulberry Fruit | Fruit | Low to Medium (Present in skin/seeds) |
| Fig Tree | Leaves | Trace (Related compounds) |
Supplementation
Dosage: If you are using a standardized mulberry leaf extract, a common dosage range is 100mg to 300mg, taken 15–30 minutes before a meal containing carbohydrates.
Usage: This is best used by individuals trying to manage post-meal glucose levels or those on a low-carb diet who occasionally indulge. It is not a replacement for a healthy diet but a tool to help manage it.
Top Food Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Safety & Side Effects
Safety Profile
General Safety: Moranoline is generally recognized as safe when consumed in amounts found in food or typical supplement doses.
Side Effects: Because it slows down carbohydrate digestion, some users may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort, such as gas or bloating, especially if consumed with very large amounts of carbohydrates. This is a result of undigested carbs fermenting in the lower gut.
Who Should Avoid It:
- People with Hypoglycemia: Since it lowers blood sugar, those prone to low blood sugar episodes should use caution.
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: There is insufficient data on safety during pregnancy, so it is best to avoid concentrated supplements.
- Children: Do not give concentrated supplements to children without medical advice.
Scientific References
- [1]Kimura, T., et al. (2007). 'Morusin and moranoline: A review of their bioactivities.' *Journal of Natural Medicines*.
- [2]Yatsunami, K., et al. (2006). 'Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of mulberry leaf extract.' *Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry*.
- [3]National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). 'Therapeutic potential of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) in metabolic disorders.'