Protective effect of mulberry (Morus atropurpurea) fruit against diphenoxylate-induced constipation in mice through the modulation of gut microbiota.

Mulberry (Morus atropurpurea) has long been used to treat gastro-intestinal ailments; however, the functional basis of its therapeutic effects remains unclear. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of mulberry (administered by gavage) on diphenoxylate-induced constipation in mice and elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects using constipation and physicochemical indexes, histological morphology and 16S rDNA amplicon analysis of fecal microbiota. Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into the following six groups (n = 10 per group): normal control, constipation model, positive control, and low-, mid- and high-dose mulberry groups.