Che - Chinese Mulberry

Cudrania tricuspidata (known as Che or Chinese mulberry) is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the Moraceae family, native to East Asia. Botanically related to the mulberry, it is characterized by thorny branches and polymorphic leaves, which are often three-lobed when young. It is predominantly a dioecious plant, so both male and female individuals are usually required for pollination. The fruit is a red to chestnut-colored spherical aggregate of drupes, resembling a brain or a large raspberry in appearance. Nutritionally, the fruits are valued for their sweet taste (reminiscent of a mixture of red melon and fig), low acidity, and vitamin (C, B) and mineral content. The phytochemical profile is unique due to the presence of specific xanthones and isoflavonoids, which are found in both the fruit and roots and have significant anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. The red color is the result of the presence of carotenoids and anthocyanins, which provide antioxidant activity.