• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2013

We investigated the 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) content of extracts from silkworm larvae at each developmental stage within three silkworm varieties. We also compared the content of the following polyhydroxylated alkaloids in the silkworm extracts: 1-DNJ, fagomine, and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-arabinitol (DAB). In addition, we evaluated the glucose-lowering effects of silkworm extract powder in db/db mice. The 1-DNJ content was the highest in Yeonnokjam $5^{th}$ instar $3^{rd}$ d larvae and Hansaengjam $5^{th}$ instar $3^{rd}$ d larvae, which contained 18.4 mg/100 g dry weight and 18.3 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively. The $5^{th}$ instar $3^{rd}$ d larvae exhibited a higher content of 1-DNJ than that of $5^{th}$ instar $5^{th}$ d larvae among all varieties. The glucose-lowering effects of silkworm extracts and Yeonnokjam powder were tested on db/db mice, and the blood glucose levels were found to decrease significantly in the YR70 group. Silkworm extracts (180 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, and 22.5 mg/kg) and acarbose (50 mg/kg) were administered orally for 4 wk. Changes in water intake were not statistically significant between control and silkworm extract-treated groups. Compared to the control group, blood glucose levels in the silkworm extract powder-treated group decreased in the 22.5 mg/kg/d group after being administered for 4 wk. This decrease was statistically significant. Furthermore, biochemical changes in the AST(Aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine aminotransferase), TCHO(Total Cholesterol), TG(Triglyceride), LDL(Low density lipoprotein), and HDL(High density lipoprotein) levels in blood were not observed. However, statistically significant decreases in blood GLU in the 22.5 mg/kg/d group compared to that of the control group occurred. In addition, the epididymal fat weight of the silkworm extract powder-treated group decreased significantly in both the 22.5 mg/kg/d group and 180 mg/kg/d group compared to that of the control group, but there were no statistically significant changes in perirenal fat weight. These results demonstrate that silkworm extracts inhibit changes in blood glucose levels in model diabetic mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1470-1478
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate biological activity and biochemical properties of extracts from Bacillus subtilis-fermented silkworm (Bombyx mori L., SP) powder of different origin (Buan, Namwon, and Boeun). An additional aim was to determine the inhibition of cancer cell (B16-F10, HT-29, LNcaP, and MCF-7) proliferation and nitric oxide (NO) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Biological activities (${\alpha},{\alpha}^{\prime}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH], free radical scavenging activity, fibrinolytic activity, antiproliferation activity, and anti-inflammatory activity) and biochemical properties (compositional amino acid contents, and mineral contents) were examined in water extracts from silkworm powder and B. subtilis-fermented silkworm powder. The highest amino acid contents were detected in Buan silkworm powder (BU). After fermented, the highest contents were found in B. subtilis-fermented Buan silkworm powder (BBO). The major minerals detected were K, Ca, and Mg. Rates of these minerals, especially those of Na increased after fermented. DPPH radical scavenging activity and fibrinolytic activity were stronger in the fermented group than non-fermented group. DPPH radical scavenging activity and fibrinolytic activity were highest in the extract from BBO. The inhibition activities of LNcaP and MCF-7 cells viability were significantly decreased in the BBO, and there was no inhibition activity in other cancer cells (B16-F10 and HT-29). An SRB assay of the cell viability of RAW 264.7 cells exposed to extracts of silkworm powder and B. subtilis-fermented silkworm powder revealed no toxicity in any of the groups. Compared with the LPS-treated group, the biggest reduction in NO production was detected in the BBO group. Based on these results, extracts from Boeun silkworm powder fermented with B. subtilis could be a candidate material as a dietary supplement for use in healthy functional foods.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2019

The effect of heat treatment on the sterilization and fatty acid compositions of silkworm powder was carried out under the guidance of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Food borne pathogens or microorganisms including E. coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and aflatoxin, were not detected. The fatty acid composition was hardly changed after the silkworm powder was treated to a high temperature of $121^{\circ}C$. The low temperature sterilization of silkworm powder at $63^{\circ}C$ decreased the concentration of E. coli while high temperature sterilization at $121^{\circ}C$ has found no traces of microorganism.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.377-388
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• 2005

Effects of silkworm powder addition on rheological properties of dough and quality characteristics of bread were investigated. Protein content of silkworm powder was 53,98%, much higher than 12.46% of wheat powder, Crude fiber, fat, and pretense contents of silkworm powder were higher than those of wheat flour, Acid analysis revealed glutamic acid content was highest 4,046.16 mg thus, significant depreciation of breadmaking was expected due to weakened gluten structure or dough. Addition of silkworm powder(optimum at 2%) with pretense inactivated by heat treatment resulted in significant improvement of volume and bread quality, with external and internal scores close to those of the control.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.263-278
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• 2013

The silkworm extract powder contain 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a potent ${\alpha}$-glycosidase inhibitor, has therapeutic potency against diabetes mellitus. Therefore, natural products containing DNJ from mulberry leaves and silkworm are consumed as health functional food. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety of the silkworm extract powder, a health food which containing the DNJ. The repeated toxicity studies and gentic toxicity studies of the silkworm extract powder were performed to obtain the data for new functional food approval in MFDS. The safety was evaluated by a single-dose oral toxicity study and a 90 day repeated-dose oral toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. The silkworm extract powder was also evaluated for its mutagenic potential in a battery of genetic toxicity test: in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay. The results of the genetic toxicology assays were negative in all of the assays. The approximate lethal dose in single oral dose toxicity study was considered to be higher than 5000 mg/kg in rats. In the 90 day study, the dose levels were wet at 0, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day, and 10 animals/sex/dose were treated with oral gavage. The parameters that were monitored were clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumptions, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, and histopathological examination. No adverse effects were observed after the 90 day administration of the silkworm extract powder. The No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) of silkworm extract powder in the 90 day study was 2000 mg/kg/day in both sexes, and no target organ was identified.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of mulberry fruit, mulberry leaves and silkworm powder with different mixing ratios on hepatic antioxidative system and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing $100{\pm}10g$ were induced diabetic by 50 mg/kg bw streptozotocin and randomly assigned to following experimental groups; normal diet group (DM), 0.3% and 0.6% mulberry fruit diet groups (F and 2F), 0.3% mulberry leaves diet group (M), 0.3% silkworm powder diet group (S), 0.15% mulberry fruit+0.15% mulberry leaves diet group (FM), 0.15% mulberry fruit+0.15% silkworm powder diet group (FS), 0.1 % mulberry fruit+0.1 % mulberry leaves+0.1% silkworm powder diet group (FMS). The experimental diets were fed for 4 weeks. Hepatic SOD activity was not changed significantly by any of single or combined supplementations of mulberry fruit, leaves and silkworm powder but GSH-px and catalase activities were increased by the groups supplemented with two or three of the test ingredients (FM, FS, FMS) as compared with the DM group. Hepatic TBARS value was not reduced significantly by any of the supplementations but lipofuscin contents were significantly reduced in the FM, FS and FMS groups as compared with the DM group. Hepatic mitochondria and microsomal carbonyl values were reduced by the single and combined supplementations of the test ingredients. Hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activities were increased in the all supplementation groups as compared with the DM group. Hepatic total lipid and triglyceride contents were increased but cholesterol contents reduced in the supplemented groups. The effects on the enzyme activities, peroxide or its products and lipid contents were most remarkable in the FMS group. In conclusion, mulberry fruit, mulberry leaves and silkworm powder have the favorable effects on antioxidative system and lipid metabolism in the diabetic liver and the mulberry fruit, leaves and silkworm powder with equal ratio exert the synergistic effect expectedly to prevent diabetic complications.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2009

To increase utilities as functional materials, 173 strains of silkworm genetic resources in the form of silkworm powder were evaluated for antioxidative capacity, with minilum L-100 device and ARAW-KIT (anti-radical ability of water soluble substance). Silkworm powder was prepared with freezing method from silkworms at 5th instar 3rd day larvae. All strains of silkworm powder were prepared with 80% methanol extraction. The data of pupation rate, longevity of silkmoth with origin and voltinism were used for data base of silkworm genetic resources. The weight of a silkworm larva with freezing method at 5th instar 3rd day was measured. The average of antioxidative capacity of 173 silkworm strains was 429.68 nmol. The analysis of correlation among variables was significant, showing negative correlation of the antioxidative capacity with longevity of silk moth and weight of 5th instar silkworm larva. The strains from the tropic, Europe and some other origins were comparatively high. In conclusion, short longevity and low weight of 5th instar silkworm larvae showed comparatively effective antioxidative capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1611-1617
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the effects of pills made of mulberry leaves and silkworm powder on lowering blood glucose level. Experimental animals were Sprague-Dawley male rat weighing 100$\pm$10 g and pills were supplemented with 0.4% (4 g/kg) diet. Experimental groups were assigned to diabetic group (DM group) and pill supplemented groups. Pill supplemented groups were classified 100% mulberry leaves (M group), mixing 25% silkworm powder to mulberry leaves (25SM group), mixing 50% silkworm powder to mulberry leaves (50SM group), mixing 70% silkworm powder to mulberry leaves (75SM group) and 100% silkworm powder (100S group). Experimental diets and water fed ad libitum, and streptozotocin was injected to induce diabetic state after 3rd weeks and sacrificed on the 9th day. The contents of 1-deoxynojirimycin(DNJ) were increased with adding the silkworm powder. The contents of GABA and rutin were increased with adding the mulberry leaves. In vitro, intestinal mucosa $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activities were significantly increased in pills which mixed with silkworm powder by 50%. Blood glucose levels were high in groups which mixed with silkworm powder by 50% compared to DM group. Intestinal mucosa maltase activity in proximal part was significantly reduced in pill supplemented group compared to DM group and pill supplemented groups were no significant difference. Enzyme activity in middle part was no significant difference in experimental groups. Enzyme activity in distal part was decreased in pill supplemented groups, especially in 50SM, 75SM and 100S groups were significantly reduced compared to DM group. Sucrase and lactase activities in pill supplemented groups were significantly reduced at proximal part, and there was no significant difference in middle and distal parts. In conclusion, pills made of mulberry leaves and silkworm powder increased the $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro and reduced the blood glucose levels by controlling the disaccharidase activities of intestinal proximal part in STZ-induced diabetic rat. The synergistic effect was the highest when mulberry leaves was mixed with silkworm powder by the ratio of 50 : 50.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2000

This study was designed to investigate the effect of silkworm powder on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in brain membrances of SD rats. Hydroxyl radical (OH) levels resulted in a considerable decreases in brain mitochondria fraction. Superoxide radical (O$_2$) levels were a slightly decreased in brain cytosol fraction. Lipid peroxide (LPO) and Oxidized protein (OP) levels were significantly decreased in brain mitochondria and microsomes fraction. Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was remarkably increased in the mitochondria fraction. Cu and Zn-SOD activities were effectively increased in brain cytosol fraction. GSHPx activity was considerably increased in brain cytosol fraction. These results suggest that anti-aging effect of silkworm plays an effective role in attenuating an oxidative stress and increasing a scravenger enzyme activity in brain membranes.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2013

In this study, silkgland powder of silkworm were investigated to see possibility for cosmetic powder materials. To test possibility as a baby powder cosmetics, total content rate of amino acids, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, MTT assay, and clinical trial were done. According to the result of the analysis of the amino acids of silkgland powder, serin (26.77%) content was the highest and asparatic acid (15.47%), and glycine (9.62%) were followed. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of silkgland powder was lower than vitamin C by 82.3% and 97%, respectively, which is relatively good. And the moisture and elasticity effect were increased in silkgland powder compared to control cosmetics by 210% and 185%, relatively. Thus, these results suggest that silkgland powder of silkworm may have beneficial properties as a material for cosmeceuticals.