• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2002

Cocoon production, which is a representative of traditional sericulture shifted into silkworm powder production in the spring of 1995. This, infect, signifies the change from the dress-centered textile business to the bio-industry and the functional resource industry. One of the most outstanding shifting is utilization of silkworm larvae for anti-diabetic agent. In Asian countries including Korea, silkworm powder derived from the domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) has long been favored for anti-diabetic agent, but its efficacy was not tested until last decade by modern scientific methods. In this article, we reviewed the major researches on the silkworm powder as a blood glucose-lowering substance. After the beginning test of the efficacy of silkworm powder by a cooperative research between Department of Sericulture and Entomlogy, NIAST, RDA and Kyung Hee University, substantial data have been accumulated so far, In a serial experiment to select best condition, the fifth instar larvae prepared by freeze dry method turned out to have the best blood glucose-lowering effect. In the pharmacological experiment to understand the mechanism of silkworm powder in small intestine, the silkworm powder turned out to inhibit the activity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, by competitively binding to $\alpha$-type disaccharides. The animal experiment showed that the extract of silkworm powder prevents a rapid increase of blood glucose level after meal and prevents hunger and law blood glucose level during empty stomach. In the experiment to isolate the major component of silkworm powder, which exerts blood glucose-lowering effect, 1-deoxynojirimy-cin (DNJ) was eventually mass-purified, and it turned out that DNJ isolated from silkworm powder was excellent in its blood glucose-lowering effect. In the experiment to understand the personal difference of the efficacy of the silkworm powder, clinical candidates were divided on the basis of the criterion of traditional Chinese medicine: Tae-Yang, Tae-Um, So-yang, and So-Um. The result showed that silkworm powder has a tendency to reduce blood glucose level at fasting and at 2 hours after meal, and this trend was somewhat obvious in the Tae-Um body type. In summary, we reviewed scientific papers on the efficacy of silkworm powder and its purified DNJ as a blood glucose-lowering agent. These suggest that silkworm powder truly possesses blood glucose-lowering effect as documented in the traditional Chinese medicine, although further researches will be required to develop them as "medical" resource instead of functional food.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Edible insects are an interesting alternative global food resource. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ingestion of silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae powder with and without resistance exercise training (isometric contraction training) increased muscle mass in ICR mice. To achieve this, 28 ICR mice were grouped into control (CON), resistance exercise training (EX), silkworm pupae powder ingested control (SP), and silkworm powder ingestion with resistance exercise training (SPEX) groups. The change in body weight ratio was significantly decreased in the EX and SPEX groups compared to the CON and SP groups. Total blood protein levels were the highest in SPEX mice compared to those in other groups. The albumin concentration increased only in the EX group. Blood GOT and GPT levels were not significantly affected. Changes in Akt and Gsk-$3{\beta}$ protein expression were not significant but there was a tendency for Akt to increase and for Gsk-$3{\beta}$ to increase following the ingestion of the powder. The size of the gastrocnemius muscle increased significantly in response to resistance exercise training only. Furthermore, the ingestion of silkworm pupae powder tended to increase muscle mass without significance. These results suggested that the ingestion of silkworm pupae powder with resistance exercise training might enhance muscle mass without hepatotoxicity. However, future study may be needed to obtained detailed results and practical suggestions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.36-36
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• 2000

No Abstract.See Full-text

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-33
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• 2015

Enzymatic modification of proteins is often used to increase the biological activity of materials. Silkworm powder has been investigated as a functional food resource, but no study has been performed on its modification by commercial food enzyme. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the feasibility of such modification of silkworm powder by alkaline protease. The activity of the enzyme was confirmed using an azocasein assay. Subsequently the silkworm powder was hydrolyzed by enzymatic treatment. UV visible spectrometry showed that the supernatant of silkworm powder subjected to enzymatic treatment had a stronger absorption band than the untreated powder. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of silkworm powder decreased on enzymatic treatment. Thus the results indicate that commercial enzymes might be used to modify the characteristics of silkworm powder.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2004

Artificial diet (AD) has shown with different advantages over mulberry leaves (ML). Various types of such feed for silkworm have been developed and proposed. The aims of this study were possibility rearing whole instar of silkworm on AD and to find some economic formulation for rearing silkworm, compare to that ML. Eleven ADs (D$_1$ to D$_{11}$) were prepared with different percentage of mulberry leaf powder, and other ingredients such as soybean meal, cellulose, potato starch, agar, wheat flour, rice bran, etc. Five formulated diets (D$_1$ D$_2$, D$_{5}$, D$_{10}$ and D$_{11}$) appeared to have similar response to that ML (D$_{m}$). There were no significant differences for duration period between ADs, all of which recorded with higher duration than mulberry leaves. Compared to other died used in the present study D$_1$ and D$_{10}$ showed better growth development and survival rate. Larvae fed D$_1$, D$_2$, D$_{5}$, D$_{10}$ and D$_{11}$ grew faster and produced heavier and more useful cocoons.coons.coons.coons.

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

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2018

Silkworm powder's thermal property is an important factor for its storage and marketing. This study examined the effect of edible enzyme on the thermal property of silkworm powder using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Results of the TGA showed that regardless of the enzyme treatment, the weight loss patterns of silkworm powders exhibited 3 step thermal property deterioration at approximately $80^{\circ}C$, $280^{\circ}C$, and $480^{\circ}C$ due to water evaporation and thermal degradation. This is similar with the DSC which also resulted in all samples two endothermic peaks attributed also to water evaporation and thermal degradation. These results indicated that the use of enzyme such as protease and cellulase might not affect significantly the thermal properties of silkworm powder.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate the effects of silkworm(Bombyx moril L.) powder on oxidative stress and membrane fluidity in brain membranes of rats. Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats(160$\pm$10 g) were fed basic diet(control group), and experimental diets(SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups) added 200 and 400mg/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in cholesterol levels of brain memberanes by administration of silkworm powder (SWP). Membrane fluidities were significantly increased(21.5% and 30.8%, respectively) in brain mitochondria of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group, but significant difference between brain microsomes could not obtained. Basal oxygen radicals (BORs) in brain mitochondria and mircrosomes were significantly inhibited(8.5% and 16.5%, 16.8%and 24.8%, respectively) by SWP-200 and SEP-400 groups compared with control group. Induced oxygen radicals(IORs) in brain mitochondria were significantly inhibited(16.6% and 21.4%, respectively)by sWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group, but IOR in brain microsome were significantly inhibited about 16.0% by SWP-400 groups only compared with control group. Lipid peroxide(LPO) levels were significantly decreaed(14.8%and 22.4%, respectively) in brain mitochondria of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group, but LPO level was significantly decreased about 16.0% in brain microsome of SWP-400 group only. Oxidized protein(OP) levels were remarkably decreased(about 14.8% and 16.5%, respectively) in brain mitochondria of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups, but OP level was significantly decreased about 13.0% in brain microsome of SWP-400 group only compared with control group, Theses results suggest that administration of in brain microsome of SWP-400 group only compared with control group. These results suggest that administration of SWP may play effective role in attenuating an oxidative stress and increasing a membrane fluidity in brain membranes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.496-503
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• 2000

This study was designed to investigate the effects of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) powder on oxidative stress and membrane fluidity in liver membranes of rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats (160±10 g) were fed basic diet (control group), and experimental diets (SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups) added 200 and 400 mg/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. A significant differences between liver mitochondria and microsomes of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups could not be obtained. Membrane fluidities were dose-dependently increased (14.8% and 28.5%, 20.0% and 29.9%) in liver mitochondria and microsomes of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group. Basal oxygen radicals (BOR) in liver mitochondria and mocrosomes were significantly inhibited (15.2% and 21.7%, 12.6% and 18.6%, respectively) by SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group. Induced oxygen radicals (IOR) in liver microsomes were significantly inhibited (15.5% and 16.1%, respectively) by SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group, but IOR in liver mitochondria was significantly inhibited about 12.0% by SWP-400 group only compared with control group. Lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were significantly decreased (14.4% and 9.1%, respectively) in liver mitochondria and microsomes of SWP-400 group only compared with control group. Oxidized protein (OP) levels were remarkably decreased about 12.7% and 16.3% in liver microsomes only of SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups, but significant difference between liver motochondria could not obtained. These results suggest that administration of SWP may play an effective role in a attenuating a oxidative stress and increasing a membrane fluidity in liver membranes.