• 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.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.75-77
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• 2010

Until now, the main treatment for impotence has been the vasodilator injection, penile implants and etc. Among many methods, most effective way is known to be the medical therapy. The oral drug for an impotence remedy has to be above all, effective to the erection, and second, safety when taking in long-term. However, so far the drug in such condition and sufficiency has not been discovered. Consequently, it is crucial to develop the new medicine, made of natural materials only, without any uncertainty of side effect. The silkworm is very difference in physiological chemical change according to growth stage. Therefore the functional effect shows a very big difference according to preparation method with a growth stage. This research carry out the experiment with the pupa powder immediately before the eclosion, eclosion adult, the pupa extract immediately before the eclosion, and the silkworm powder of 5 instar 3rd day. The result showed not a big chance in weight, feed and water intake quantity. But testosterone hormone secretion effects of the freeze drying powder of the pupa immediately before the eclosion was very high 7.31 ng/ml, compared to 2.37 ng/ml of non treatment and 2.67 ng/ml of alcohol extraction method. As this result, the freeze drying pupa powder of the pupa immediately before the eclosion was confirmed to promote the secretion of the testosterone hormone more than alcohol extraction method of existing.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2017

Gastric ulcer is a clinical symptom characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Stress and alcohol consumption have been identified as the major cause of gastric ulcer. However, the effects of silkworms on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer have not been studied yet. The mature silkworms that are difficult to eat have become easier to ingest due to recent technological development to make steaming and freeze-drying mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP). In this study, we investigated whether three silkworm varieties, Baekokjam, Golden-silk and Yeonnokjam could alleviate ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with 3 SMSPs (0.1 or 1 g/kg BW) or normal diet (AIN-76A) were exposed to absolute ethanol (3 g/kg BW, 3 h) by oral gavage. Morphological examination included ulcer index as a measurement of hemorrhages and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to analyze the severity of gastric ulcer. Results of macroscopic examination suggested that all 3 SMSPs pretreatment significantly protected gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced damage. Microscopic observations demonstrated significant mucosal erosion and inflammation in ethanol-treated rats, which was abrogated in rats pretreated with 3 SMSPs. In addition, pretreatment with all 3 SMSPs showed significant decreases the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, IL-6 and cyclooxygenase-2. Among SMSP from 3 varieties of silkworm, preadministration of 1 g/kg Baekokjam SMSP showed the most effective protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. These results suggest that Baekokjam SMSP can be a potential gastroprotective agent against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer.

• 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.28 no.7
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• pp.786-794
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• 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.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2012

In this study, silk-gland powder of silkworm was investigated for the usefulness as a potential agent for functional cosmetics, total content of amino acids and DPPH free radical scavenging assay, and clinical trial were done. The analysis of the amino acids of silk-gland powder showed that serine (26.77 %) content was the highest and aspartic acid, glycine, and glutamic acid followed that. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of silk-gland powder was lower than vitamin C (82.3 % v.s. 97 %), The moisture and elasticity were increased in silk-gland powder compared to control cosmetics by 257.2 % and 181.15 %, relatively. These results suggest that silk-gland powder of silkworm may have beneficial properties as a material for cosmeceuticals.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2017

Increased alcohol consumption is a burden on the world because it is associated with various health problems. However, the effects of silkworms on alcohol metabolism have not been studied yet. The hard-to-eat mature silkworms have become easier to ingest recently due to the development of technology, steam-lyophilising mature silkworm larvae. In this study, we investigated and compared the effects of SMSPs from three silkworm varieties, Baekokjam, Golden-silk and Yeonnokjam weaving white, golden, and light green cocoons on alcohol metabolism in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with three SMSPs (0.1 g/kg or 1 g/kg body weight) or normal diet (AIN-76A) for 2 weeks were subjected to intragastric administration of absolute ethanol (3 g/kg body weight, 3 h). Three SMSPs did not affect the final body weight and liver weight. All 3 SMSPs were effective to reduce the enzymes in alcohol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and liver damage and enzymes involved in liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Among SMSP from 3 varieties of silkworm, preadministration of 1 g/kg Baekokjam SMSP showed the most effective suppressive effect on the activities of ADH, ALDH, AST and ALT. The Baekokjam SMSP contained higher amounts of beneficial amino acids than Golden-silk or Yeonnokjam SMSP. These results suggest that Baekokjam SMSP might be used as a new and promising candidate for improving alcohol metabolism and liver injury through promoting rapid alcohol metabolism.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2011

The average life expectancy has continuously increased with the development of medical industry. As women get older, they experience the deficit of estrogen caused by decreased function of ovarian. Specifically, they suffer from temporary fever because of unstable vasomotion and, in the long term experience, degeneration of urogenital organs, tooth loss, arteriosclerosis, demantia, snores and so on. Because of these symptoms the estrogen medical supply is getting required. Along with this, many studies have conducted to find out substitutional medicals without any side effects. This research was carried out to find out such substitutable materials. For the purpose of study, we examined the change of estrogen using the rats fed with the pupa powder immediately before the eclosion, eclosed adult, the pupa extract immediately before the eclosion, and the silkworm powder prepared at $3^{rd}$ day of $5^{th}$ instar. The result showed no significant chance in weight, feeding and water intake quantity among variables. However, the estrogen hormone secretion effects was very high at 73 pg/ml in the rats fed with the freeze-dried powder of the Yeonnokjam male pupa prepared immediately before the eclosion, compared with the control at 59 pg/ml. The next was Yangwonjam male adult at 71 pg/ml.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2017

Hangover due to alcohol consumption causes social and physical problems. There is a growing interest in edible insects worldwide. We have previously published a new technology to make hard mature silkworm, Bombyx mori, into edible form, steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP). In this study, AIN-76 or SMSP (0.1 and 1 g/kg rat body weight) containing diets in SD rats were pretreated for 2 weeks, and ethanol (3 g/kg rat body weight) was administered as an oral gavage and sacrificed after 3 hours. As a result, blood alcohol and aldehyde levels were significantly decreased in SMSP fed rats. In addition, liver injury markers, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly decreased in SMSP group compared to ethanol group. $TNF-{\alpha}$, an inflammatory cytokine, and malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker, also showed a dose-dependent decrease in the group receiving SMSP. Conclusively, consumption of SMSP not only reduced hangover induced by ethanol, but also decreased liver damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5-7
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• 1977

On the purpose of exploiting cellulose resourse which is needed for artificial diet of silkworms, mulberry branch, eastern cotton wood branch, pitch pine pulp, poplar pulp, chaff, sawdust and rice straw were examined. Among the matters above mentioned. mulberry branch and pitch pine pulp were found to be replaceable as cellulose component in the artificial diet. By means of some chemical treatments, it is found that one of the extracted cellulose powder from mulberry branches is more useful in the larval growth.