• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

Under the all India programme of evaluation of mulberry and silkworm genotypes, twelve bivoltine silkworm breeds obtained from Central Silkworm Germplasm Resource Centre, Hosur (CSGRC) were evaluated at the bivoltine silkworm breeding laboratory, Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Mysore (CSR&TI). These breeds were tested during September-October 2003, August-September 2004 and February-March 2005. The average temperature and humidity during September-October 2003 was $26.5^{\circ}C$ and 72.6% RH, while during August-September 2004, it was $26.5^{\circ}C$ and 75.2% RH and during February-March 2005 it was $24^{\circ}C$ and 48% RH respectively. The performance of the breeds in respect of 21 traits was studied and statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (Singh and Choudhary, 1985). Silkworm breeds were short-listed using multiple trait evaluation index method as suggested by Mano et at., (1993). Evaluation Index values were calculated for all the 11 traits of economic importance and six breeds were short-listed based on average index value 50 and above 50. Two breed viz., BV 183 (SMGS-1) have recorded average E.I. >50 in 10 traits (except in neatness) and ranked first and the breed BV 262 (SMGS9) with E.I. value >50 in nine traits except in cocoon weight and neatness ranked second, in the order of merit. These two breeds may be selected as resource material for evolving region specific silkworm breeds.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.322-326
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to develop hydrolysate from silkworm (Cudrania Silkworm Fibroin Peptide; CSFP), a food containing components for improving blood vessel health. In general, Cudrania tricuspidata leaves contain about 5 times more rutin and 25 times more dihydroquercetin than mulberry leaves. 1-Deoxynojirimycine (1-DNJ), dihydroquercetin and rutin inhibit the activity of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, inhibit blood lipid peroxidation, and regulate insulin secretion, which helps blood vessels to be healthy. When the diet-controlled silkworm was enzymatically hydrolyzed, it was confirmed that rutin content was about 8 times higher than that of the in general silkworm as a control. In the silkworm hydrolysate, CSFP, developed as a final food material, the active ingredients were 65 mg/kg for rutin, 3,328 mg/kg for DNJ, 0.43 mg/kg for dihydroquercetin, and 82,624 mg/kg for total polyphenol, which was confirmed through LC-MS/MS analysis. In conclusion, it was found that silkworms fed with C. tricuspidata leaves as a diet had more active components that can help control blood sugar and improve blood vessel health than silkworms fed with mulberry leaves.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 2004

In order to find potential anticancer agents, we extracted pheophytin from silkworm feces according to various dry and storage methods such as sun dry, shade dry, fresh freezing dry and freezing dry after freezing storage (for 1∼3 years). The pheophytin extracts, mainly 10-hydroxypheophytin a, little b, of various storage silkworm feces were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and fluorescence detection. The content of those pheophytih in old silkworm for 3 years (freezing storage and freezing dried in use, or freezing dried and cold storage) was better than others. The cytotoxicity of the pheophytin extracts and ethanol extracts of various storage silkworm feces were measured using Jurkat cells originated from human leukemia, using dye uptake assay (MTT) in order to find effective photodynamic therapeutic agents. The anticancer activity of those pheophytin extracts in various storage methods showed little difference among them. But ethanol extracts of fresh freezing dried silkworm in the current year was good cytotoxic activity than those of any other silkworm feces. With regards to these results, fresh ethanol extracts of silkworm feces were better than old ones. On the other hands, the pheophytin extracts of old silkworm feces contained the highest percentage of pheophytin content and showed good cytotoxicity against cancer cells by changing the pheophytin into pheophobide in the degradative process.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2012

Osteoporosis is characterized by the reduced density of mineralized bone matrix. The loss of bone has been attributed to an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. The silkmoth is one of the famous traditional tonic medicines. Silkworm pupa was evaluated for its antiosteoporotic activity in an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. The rats were ovariectomized at 6weeks of age and divided into 7 groups. All the groups were fed without calcium diet. The OVX rats were treated with water and silkworm powder for 6 weeks. In OVX rats, the body weight, feeding and water intake quantity did not show a significant change, but the silkworm pupa powder immediately before the eclosion of Yeonrokjam was significantly increased the bone mineral density in the femoral bone. The silkworm pupa powder increased the bone with increasing calcium in serum. These results also showed its protective action through promotion of bone formation. The silkworm pupa powder has a definite antiosteoporotic effect; similar to estrogen, it is especially effective for the prevention of bone fracture induced by estrogen deficiency. The silkworm pupa powder is a promising anti-osteoporotic agent that can prevent bone fractures in osteoporotic patients. The silkworm pupa powder does not show serious side effects because natural herbal medicine origin.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2016

The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori has been one of the most important domestic animals which have provided with silk fibers for weaving fabrics and a food for a protein and lipid source. In addition, various health improvement effects of diverse silkworm larval powders were reported. Recently we found that steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP) generated using white-jade (also known as Backokjam) silkworm variety extended healthspan and increased resistance to Parkinson's disease in animal models. Because the colors of cocoons in silkworm varieties were caused by altered signal transduction pathways transporting phytochemicals from intestinal lumens to silk glands, we performed the proximate, amino acid, mineral, carbohydrates, fatty acid, and cholesterol composition analyses of SMSPs of 3 silkworm varieties which were weaving light yellow, golden, and red cocoons. Although most of nutrient compositions among 3 SMSPs were similar, there were significant differences in certain amino acids, minerals, and fatty acid compositions. Red silk silkworm (RS)-SMSP had higher contents of crude proteins and total amino acids than other SMSPs. In addition, the ratio of n-3/n-6 unsaturated fatty acids were higher than the other SMSPs. In contrast Golden silk silkworm (GS)-SMSP had higher ratio of potassium/sodium than the other SMSPs. These nutrient analysis results suggested that 3 SMSPs might have common and unique health improvement effects. Thus, further studies in the functionalities of the 3 SMSPs will reveal unknown their health improvements effects.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2007

After a serial study on the therapeutic efficacy of the powdery silkworm for diabetics was positively resulted in, many powdery silkworm products were on the market in Korea. Up to now, however, no causal method is available to discriminate the strain of silkworms that is a major ingredient for manufacturing powdery silkworm, even though the quality of the powdery silkworm differs greatly by source and origin of strains. We previously were successful in identifying 25 silkworm strains kept in Korea using nine intronic sequences. In this study, we tested the utility of the nine intronic sequences to distinguish the most widely reared silkworm strains originated from Korea and China. Two intron regions, PTTH Intron3 and PTTH Intron3, showed a substantial sequence divergence (mean sequence divergence of 3.13% in PTTH Intron3 and 4.99% in PTTH Intron3). These two intronic sequences provided no identical sequences among the seven strains tested. Thus, these sequences each along can be used to discriminate the seven strains tested in this study. Furthermore, other intron regions, except for VDP Intron4 allowed us to discriminate $2{\sim}4$ strains by strain-specific unique insertion/deletion or substitution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1975

Silkworm and silkworm-chrysalis as an edible insect have been investigated. Through this investigation, the following results are obtained : 1) Silkworm and silkworm-chrysalis as a good source of protein-rich compound was examined, and they contained 54.9% to 56% protein as a crude protein. 2) Except tryptophan, almost all the essential amino acids contained. The amount of the amino acids was on the increased as much as the silkworm growth. 3) The following amino acids was not detected on the silkworm fibron analysis, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, cystine and methionine. But the following amino acid were relatively high amount : glycine, alanine, and tyrosine. 4) Sucrose, fructose, and glucose as a carbohydrates was investigated, the results are from 0.312% to 0.313% as an invert sugar; 0.289% to 0.305% as a glucose; 0.333% to 0.412% as a fructose. 5) The acidity and pH of the milk was examined according to the silkworm-chrysalis powder added. added material was not effected as far as the milk was change. Therefore, the milk and the silkworm-chrysalis mixture are being a good drinkable things.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.346-351
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• 2004

This study was carried out to examine the antioxidant effects of a mixture of mulberry leaves and silkworm powder in plasma and liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were used and their diets were supplemented with $0.4\%$ (4 g/kg) of the mixtures. Experimental groups were diabetic rats without supplements (DM group) or with a combination of the supplements: $100\%$ mulberry leaves (M group), $25\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (25SM group), $50\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (50SM group), $75\%$ silkworm powder mixed with mulberry leaves (75SM group) or $100\%$ silkworm powder (100S group). The rats were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum. All animals were injected with streptozotocin at the $3^{rd}$ week for inducing diabetes and were sacrificed on $9^{th}$ day thereafter. Hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity significantly decreased in the mixture supplemented groups compared to the DM group. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not significantly different among any of the experimental groups, but glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity increased in the mixture supplemented groups compared to the DM group. In particular, it was the highest in the 50SM group. The hepatic TBARS values were lower in all the mixture supplemented groups than in the DM group, and it was as lowest when ratio of mulberry leaves to silkworm powder was highest. Hepatic lipofuscin contents were similar with the TBARS value. In conclusion, the mixtures containing silkworm powder reduced oxidative damage by strengtbening the antioxidative system and suppressing oxidative stress in the STZ-induced diabetic rat. The 1:1 blend of silkworm powder and mulberry leaves was the most effective combination for antioxidant activity.

• 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.