Applicability of Honey on Silkworms (Bombyx mori) and Quality Improvement of Its Biomaterials

Abstract

Since ancient times, honey has been considered one of the most illustrious and esteemed natural products. Honey plays two key roles; specifically, it is an appreciated nutritional product, and also exhibits a wide range of beneficial properties for human health as a therapeutic agent. Furthermore, it has been shown that honey has valuable effects on the biological and physiological features of mulberry silkworms (Bombyx mori). Bombyx mori exhibits importance not only for the economy, but it also serves as an important biotechnological bioreactor for the production of recombinant proteins that have a great impact in the medical field and beyond. It also represents an important model organism for life sciences. In view of the fact that silk fibroin serves as a natural biopolymer that displays high biocompatibility with human organisms and due to honey’s various and remarkable properties for human health, the two elements are currently used together in order to develop ideal biomaterials for a wide range of purposes. In this review, by discussing the applicability of honey on Bombyx mori and beyond, the importance of honey for life sciences and related fields is spotlighted.

Synergistic Effect of Honey and Lemon Juice-Enriched Mulberry Diets on the Growth of Silkworm, Bombyx Mori During Metamorphosis

“…Moreover, honey represents an important alternative agent against antibiotic resistant bacteria and hence, it has been used since ancient times in various forms to sweeten and avor different types of foods (Dezmirean et al,2015). More importantly, it has been applied in sericulture to prepare silk broin-based biomaterials (Baci et al, 2021). On the other hand, lemon juice, the extract of the yellow fruit of Citrus limen (Family: Rutaceae), has been widely used in nutritional studies obviously due to its richness in ascorbic acid.…”

“…The report of Baci et al, (2021) highlighted the valuable effects of honey and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid: the chief constituent of lemon juice) and suggested further research on the applicability of these two natural products in sericulture. Against this backdrop, it was considered necessary to gain an in-depth knowledge of the quantitative proles of silkworm growth under the nutritional impact of honey and lemon juiceenriched mulberry diets as it could have positive implications for evolving appropriate strategies for rearing silkworms.…”

Calluna vulgaris as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential

“…Another important biological property of honey that exhibits valuable therapeutic effects is the antibacterial capacity. This property is mainly associated with the geographical and botanical source of plants, bee species or the processes that honey goes through before it arrives at the customer [ 250 ]. Some of the most important factors that have a significant contribution to the antibacterial activity of honey are: the high osmolality and sugar content, low pH, viscosity, water activity, polyphenols and methylglyoxal (MGO) content, hydrogen peroxide activity, and the bee immune-enhancing peptide [ 251 , 252 , 253 , 254 ].…”

Advances in Editing Silkworms (Bombyx mori) Genome by Using the CRISPR-Cas System

“…This natural product has extraordinary benefits for human health, exhibiting antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial effects [76]. Due to its special characteristics, the use of honey is not limited to humans, but this natural product is being used to improve certain features of other insects, such as silkworms [77]. There are numerous studies that detail functional analysis of A. mellifera genes by exploiting the CRISPR-Cas9 system.…”

“…There is a major drawback when it comes to this source of nutrition, namely the limited availability of mulberry leaves. In order to be able to rear silkworms not only in spring and summer, artificial diets are currently being used for their nourishment [77,87].…”