In vitro, the fresh M. Alba showed a strong action against Staphylococcus aureus, beta Streptococcus hemolyticus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Bacillus anthracis, and also some effectiveness against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The minimum inhibiting concentrations of kuwanons I and L against Staphylococcus aureus were 3.1 and 6.1 Hg/ml, respectively. The M. Alba decoction had a leptospiricidal action.

Both M. Alba and ecdysterone were found to be hypoglycemic in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus, and in mice with hyperglycemia elicited by epinephrine, glucagon or insulin antiserum. Ecdysterone promoted glycogenesis from glucose without altering the blood glucose level in normal animals. Some investigators considered that the fall in blood glucose level was precipitated by stimulation of insulin secretion by some amino acids in M. Alba.

M. Alba caused inhibition of rodent intestinal muscles and stimulation of uteri at estrus. Intravenous injection of the dilute extract of the herb caused a transient fall in the blood pressure. Ecdysterone promoted cellular growth, stimulated the mitosis of dermal cells to form new epithelium, and enhanced exuviation of insects. In man, it promoted protein anabolism, eliminated cholesterol, and reduced blood lipids. Feeding mice with phytoestrogens obtained from the ethanol extract of M. Alba retarded the growth.

The 10% M. Alba injection administered into the quadricep or instilled into the conjunctival sac of rabbits did not produce local irritation. No allergic reactions in guinea pigs nor hemolysis of sheep red blood cells were observed. The Green Medicine "Clear the Way" (Morus Alba-Chrysanthemum Decoction) increased the phagocytic index of macrophages and eosinophilic leukocytes.

Kuwanons G and H, sanggenone C, and mulberrofuran C all showed significant hypotensive activity when given intravenously to rabbits at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Mulberrofuranes F and G also showed marked hypotensive activity in rabbits. Sanggenone C (0.5 mg/kg) and sanggenone D (0.5 2.0 mg/kg) caused hypotension in rats. Moracenins A, B, C, and D also possessed a marked hypotensive effect in rats.

The safety dose of the 10% M. Alba injection in 20g mice by single intraperitoneal injection was equivalent to 250 times the human dose. Intraperitoneal injection of this agent to mice at a dose 60 times the human dose for 21 days did not cause damage on the liver, kidneys, and lungs, but much higher doses caused degeneration and hemorrhage of these organs.

Morus-Chrysanthemum Cold Pill is useful in the early stage of the common cold with symptoms of cough, mild fever, headache, and nasal congestion, and also useful in the early stage of measles.

The concentrate of Folium Mori Alba, Rhizoma Phragmatis, Gypsum Fibrosum Crudae, Folium Isatidis, Rhizoma Imperatae, Radix Glycyrrhizae) was used with good effects in 40 children suffering from upper respiratory tract infections with symptoms of acute fever and cough; 22 of these cases were given the decoction alone.

Folium Mori, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Radix Adenophorae, Bulbus Fritillaria, Semen Soyae Praeparatum, Cortex Gardeniae, and Pericarpium Pyri was used to treat 72 cases of whooping cough. Improvement of different extents was achieved in 69 cases after one dose; the cough was completely relieved in 24 cases after 3 doses.

Some effectiveness was achieved with compound formulae of M. Alba in corneal ulcer, esophagitis, atrophic gastritis, chronic cholecystitis, aphonia, and bronchiectasis complicated with hemoptysis. Folium Mori and Semen Sesami was reported to be effective against vertigo, blurred vision, chronic cough, constipation due to depletion of "body onload="highlight();" fluid", and rough dry skin).

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998