1-Deoxynojirimycin

1-Deoxinojirimicin (DNA or 1-DNJ), also termed Duvoglustat or Moraranolin, is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that is most frequently found in mulberry leaves. It can be obtained in small quantities making an herbal tea from mulberry leaves, but interest in industrial production has led to research on developing mulberry tea higher in DNJ, and on alternative routes of production, such as via Bacillus species.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of fat, carbohydrate, and protein that result from deficient insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance. Several studies have shown that phytochemicals from natural resources provide unique opportunities for treating diabetes. Mulberry leaf extracts have been used in China and other Asian countries to treat diabetes based on reports of anti-diabetic effects in laboratory animals.