Mulberry leaf
Mulberry leaf suppliers and sourcing guide
Mulberry leaf is the leaf of the white mulberry tree, Morus alba, grown widely in China, India, Thailand and Korea, largely for silkworm feed. Leaves are dried for tea, milled to powder, or extracted with water or ethanol and standardized to 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), an iminosugar measured by HPLC or LC-MS. Leaf tea, powder and DNJ-standardized extract are the main forms buyers purchase.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Morus alba leaf · white mulberry leaf · sang ye · Folium Mori
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of mulberry leaf
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Dried leaf tea
Whole or cut dried leaf for infusion, sometimes roasted.
Leaf powder
Milled dried leaf for capsules, drinks and baking.
DNJ-standardized extract
Water or ethanol extract with a declared 1-deoxynojirimycin content, typically 1% to 10% or more.
Organic
Leaf or extract from certified organic plantations, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (HPTLC)
- Fingerprint against a Morus alba leaf reference.
- DNJ assay (HPLC or LC-MS)
- DNJ by HPLC after derivatization or by LC-MS; the method should be named because results differ between methods.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
DNJ content varies with leaf age, season and cultivar, so check each lot against the spec rather than an average. Record the supplier lot, harvest season, assay method and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Morus alba (Sang ye) under the pharmacopoeial name Folium Mori.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Morus alba (POL-NF-00520) lists the fruit as not novel in food and the young leaves, stem and rhizome (root bark) as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)GRN 992, for a white mulberry leaf extract notified by Phynova Group Limited, closed in May 2022 with FDA having ceased to evaluate the notice at the notifier's request.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Mulberry leaf suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking mulberry leaf suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell mulberry leaf? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of mulberry leaf can brands buy?
Common forms include dried leaf tea, leaf powder, dNJ-standardized extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for mulberry leaf include?
Expect identity (HPTLC), dNJ assay (HPLC or LC-MS), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and residual solvents, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should mulberry leaf be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of mulberry leaf?
Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Morus alba (Sang ye) under the pharmacopoeial name Folium Mori. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Morus alba (POL-NF-00520) lists the fruit as not novel in food and the young leaves, stem and rhizome (root bark) as not novel in food supplements. GRN 992, for a white mulberry leaf extract notified by Phynova Group Limited, closed in May 2022 with FDA having ceased to evaluate the notice at the notifier's request.
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