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

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.1468-1477
• /
• 2009

The comparative effects of the fibrinolytic, and tyrosinase inhibition activities and electrophoretical protein patterns with freeze-drying silkworm powder (FDSW), heating-drying silkworm powder (HDSW) and fermented silkworm powder by Bacillus subtilis or Lactobacillus hilgardii were investigated. When total protein patterns of FDSW, HDSW, both fermented SW, were analyzed by native- and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), there were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns. Major minerals of FDSW and HDSW were K, Ca, Mg, and Zn. Major compositional amino acids of FDSW and HDSW were glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and serine. Major fatty acids of FDSW and HDSW were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. Fibriolytic activity was the highest in the fermented FDSW by 5% B. subtilis among the various samples. Tyrosinase inhibition activity was higher in the water and 70% methanolic extract of FDSW than in HDSW. DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in HDSW than in FDSW. In addition, DPPH radical scavenging activity was higher in FDSW or HDSW fermented by L. hilgardii than that fermented by B. subtilis, however, all samples exhibited a relatively low activity compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities of fermented SW.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.789-795
• /
• 2013

Current study was to investigate the potential effects of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. fermented with Bacillus subtilis (BFSP) and Aspergillus kawachii (AFSP) at the 5% (w/w) levels in Sprague-Dawley rats, which was intoxicated with 1% (w/w) orotic acid (OA) for 10 days. The rat group administered silkworm powder showed improvements in fatty liver condition. Consumption of fermented silkworm powder reduced triglyceride concentrations in the liver tissues and serum and increased the serum lipid concentrations to normal levels, thereby aiding in improving fatty liver conditions. These effects were more pronounced in the BFSP than that in SP or AFSP in orotic acid-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. Based on these results, fermented silkworms are considered to be a material with significant potential for development into a functional health food that can improve fatty liver conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2011

Biological activities (${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, fibrinolytic activity and reducing power) and biochemical properties (protein content and electrophoretical protein patterns) were examined in solid state fermentation with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus kawachii using silkworm powder (SP) as substrate. The highest protein contents and free radical scavenging activities were seen in the SP fermented for 12 days with B. subtilis and A. kawachii, and these were in a time-dependent manner. The highest reducing power was seen in the SP fermented for 6 days with B. subtilis and for 12 days with A. kawachii, respectively. The highest fibrinolytic activities were seen in silkworm fermented for 6 days with B. subtilis and A. kawachii, but this activity was higher in the A. kawachii fermented SP than that of B. subtilis. When total protein patterns were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), the proteins of the SP fermented with B. subtilis for 3 days were completely degraded, while the protein degradation in the SP fermented with A. kawachii occurred after 12 days and this degradation increased proportionally to culture time. As a result, the SP fermented with both B. subtilis and A. kawachii showed higher fibrinolytic activities after 6 days of fermentation and antioxidative activity after 12 days, indicating that physiological activities of the fermented SP using these strains were highly improved compared to the unfermented SP, and that this compound could be a candidate material as a dietary supplement of healthy functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.697-707
• /
• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of extracts from silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) that was fermented with Bacillus subtilis KACC 91157 at the levels of 1%(v/w), 2.5%(v/w), and 5%(v/w) in alcohol-fed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: normal group (N), alcohol treated group (C), silymarin treated group (PC, positive control), 5% silkworm powder treated group (SP5), 1% Bacillus subtilis-fermented silkworm powder treated group (BSP1), 2.5% BSP treated group (BSP2.5), and 5% BSP treated group (BSP5). The activities of AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH in the serum and the triglyceride concentrations in the liver and serum were increased by alcohol feeding but were reduced in the BSP5 group. In addition, the contents of total lipids, free fatty acids, and total cholesterol were increased in the alcohol-fed group but were reduced in the BSP5 group. The activities of ADH, ALDH and ADH, ALDH protein levels in the liver were increased in the BSP5 group. The TBARS contents in the liver, serum, liver mitochondria, and liver microsomes were slightly decreased in the BSP5 group compared to the C group. The hepatocytes in alcohol-fed rats contained numerous large droplets; however, BSP5 treatment prevented alcohol-induced lipid droplet accumulation in the hepatocytes. Based on these results, extracts from Bacillus subtilis-fermented silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) have significant potential for development into a functional health food that can improve alcoholic fatty liver conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.237-244
• /
• 2010

Five mold strains - Mucor racemousus, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus kawachii, and Monascus purpureus - were used for the fermentation of both freeze-dried and air-dried silkworm powders. The concentrations of proteins and minerals, electrophoretical protein patterns, fatty acid composition and the activities of fibrinolytic and antioxidation with freeze-dried silkworm (FDSW) or air-dried silkworm powders (ADSW) fermented by the five molds were investigated. The concentrations of major minerals in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were K by 72.0-76.3 and 77.1-78.9 ppm, Mg by 29.6-49.7 and 44.3-58.7 ppm, Ca by 1.9-14.9 and 9.8-21.6 ppm and Zn by 0.64-0.70 and 4.17-4.52 ppm, respectively. Major fatty acids in fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were linolenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. There were slightly varietal differences in electrophoretical protein patterns when total protein patterns of fermented FDSW and ADSW powders were analyzed by native-and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). DPPH radical scavenging activity was slightly stronger in fermented ADSW powders than that in fermented FDSW. Fibriolytic activity was only detected in the FDSW fermented by Aspergillus kawachi and Monascus purpureus. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities and chemical characteristics of silkworm fermented by mold, which can be used for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1031-1039
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of extracts from silkworm Bombyx mori L. fermented with Bacillus subtilis KACC 91157 at levels of 5%(v/w) and 10%(v/w) in Sprague-Dawley rats intoxicated with 1%(w/w) orotic acid (OA) for 10 days. The rats were divided into a normal group (N), a control group (C: OA), and treatment groups (SP10: OA + 10% extracts from B. mori L.; BSP5: OA + 5% extracts from B. mori L. fermented with B. subtilis KACC 91157; BSP10: OA + 10% extracts from B. mori L. fermented with B. subtilis KACC 91157). Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased following OA feeding, but the rise was slightly reduced by administration of BSP10. The total lipid, free fatty acid, phospholipid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride contents in serum were significantly lower in the OA treatment groups than in the N group. However, the contents slightly increased following the administration of BSP10. Glutathione concentrations in liver and serum were reduced in the OA-induced fatty liver, but they increased following the administration of BSP10. Hepatocytes in the OA-induced fatty liver contained numerous large droplets. However, SP10, BSP5, and BSP10 feeding prevented OA-induced lipid droplet accumulation in hepatocytes. Accordingly, extracts from silkworm powder fermented with B. subtilis could be an ideal material as a dietary supplement in healthy functional foods to improve the effects of fatty liver.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.7
• /
• pp.786-794
• /
• 2018

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae have been widely worked in wound dressing, hepatoprotective activity, antigenotoxicity, control of glucose level and anti-cancer activity. To investigate the anti-obesity activity of ethanol extract of silkworm pupae powder fermented with Cordyceps militaris (ESfC), the free glycerol release and cAMP concentration as well as fat accumulation were measured in the primary adipocytes of SD (Sprague Dawley) rats and high fat diet (HFD)-treated C57BL/6 mice treated with 12 weeks. Firstly, the presence of the cordycepin with lipid lowering effect was confirmed in ESfC using HPLC analysis. The level of free glycerol and cAMP concentration was significantly increased in the primary adipocytes treated with high dose of ESfC ($400{\mu}g/ml$) although these levels were consistently maintained in other dose ESfC treated groups. In HFD-induced obesity model, the increased fat weight and size of adipocytes in HFD+Vehicle treated group was recovered in HFD+ESfC treated group. Also, the liver weight and the number of lipid droplets were higher in HFD+Vehicle treated group than No treated group. But, this level was significantly decreased in HFD+ESfC treated group compared with HFD+Vehicle treated group. Furthermore, a similar recovery was detected on the phosphorylation of periliphin and HSL, and ATGL expression. Overall, the results of the present study provide some scientific evidences that ESfC can stimulate lipolysis in primary adipocytes and prevent fat accumulation in HFD-treated obesity model, and therefore have the potential for use as anti-obesity agents to treat obese patient.