隨著時代的進步，生活水平的提高，國人對於飲食的要求逐漸朝向高精緻化的餐飲，另外，因為現代人忙碌且作息不正常的生活型態，快速方便的速食餐飲業也因應而生，這些不良的飲食習慣使得人們在罹患與肥胖相關的慢性病，有逐年增高的趨勢，若能發展一無副作用的天然食品，且具有降低血脂，抑制脂肪肝形成，達到保護肝臟之功效，將有助於達到預防許多慢性疾病發生之目的。桑葉盛產於國內各處，易栽培且食用上並無副作用，並含有數種具功能性之黃酮成分，具有抗氧化、防癌及抑制高血脂之作用，因此可發展為預防脂肪肝形成之保健食品，以減少國人罹患肥胖相關疾病之風險及提高其農產價值，並針對衛生署所公佈"高脂飼糧誘導非酒精性脂肪肝"之護肝作用申請相關保健食品字號。
Obesity is a disorder of energy imbalance and the most prevalent nutritional diseases in developed countries. Besides, obesity is also associated with health problems such as type 2 DM, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Mulberry is widespread in Taiwan. Morus alba L. leaves extract (MLE) has been identified a lot of benefit about anti-oxidant and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Our study will demonstrat that MLE could attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation and reduce visceral adipose tissues elevation by a high-fat diet. The results suggest that MLE may be an effective health food for the treatment of obesity and fatty liver.
