Neuroprotective Effects and Physicochemical Characteristics of Milk Fortified with Fibroin BF-7

Effect of a Fibroin Enzymatic Hydrolysate on Memory Improvement: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

“…In four healthy volunteers with an average age of 23 years, an open-label imaging study of brain blood flow (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans) with the K-WAIS IQ test showed that 30 min after the ingestion of FPEH, brain areas that participate in learning and memory showed increased circulation and glucose uptake that correlated with increased IQ test scores [ 9 ]. In an in vitro system, FPEH protected human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cells from reactive oxygen species [ 10 , 40 ]. The beta-sheet portions of FPEH may bind to beta-sheet portions of other proteins such as amyloid beta, preventing aggregation that is known to impair the brain functions of memory and learning [ 5 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].…”

“…When FPEH was fed or injected intraperitoneally to animals also injected intrathecally with beta amyloid, brain fibril and plaque formation was reduced [ 8 ]. Small peptides 5–11 amino acids long (the same range as found in FPEH) are called beta-sheet breakers [ 45 , 46 , 47 ], and they bind to the beta-sheet areas of beta-amyloid, blocking the ability to start the fibril/plaque formation cascade [ 40 , 41 , 42 ]. One retro-inverso peptide to the KLVFF amino acid sequence in beta-amyloid, made from D-amino acids and attached to a retro HIV protein transduction domain (TAT) to form RI-OR2-TAT peptide, was injected into mice peripherally and was shown to cross the blood–brain barrier and reduce beta-amyloid aggregation and its downstream effects [ 47 ].…”

Identification and applications of neuroactive silk proteins: a narrative review

“…Chae et al (2004) have shown that BF-7 protects against amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced apoptosis through the attenuation of ROS overproduction and inhibition of caspase-3 activity in the human neuronal cell. Pretreatment of neuroblastoma cells with milk fortified with fibroin BF-7 for seven days decreased Aβ neurotoxicity and increased cell survival rate (Choi et al, 2008). BF-7 was also shown to protect the human neuronal cell against scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in vitro, and attenuate memory impairments induced by scopolamine in vivo (Iborra et al, 2004).…”

Characterization of tyrosine-rich Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin hydrolysate

“…Several biological activities of SF have been reported including lowering of blood cholesterol and glucose levels and alcohol absorption, as well as its neuroprotective effect on fortified milk [4]. Silk fibroin, spun by silkworm, is one of mass-produced proteins, naturally and purely.…”