Nutrition composition differences among steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powders made from 3 Bombyx mori varieties weaving different colored cocoons

Abstract

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. Vol. 33, No. (1), pp. 6-14 (2016) threads were known to be caused by the accumulation of specific phytochemicals in silk glands, suggesting that silk glands in mature silkworm larvae with 3 different colors might have different nutrition components. Thus, we performed proximate, amino acid composition, mineral, carbohydrate, and fatty acid analysis to examine any difference among 3 silkworm varieties. Materials and MethodsSilkworm varieties, rearing methods, and steamed and freeze-dried mature larval powder (SMSP) processing protocols Three silkworm varieties were used in this study. Golden silk (GK) (Kang et al., 2007), Yeonnokjam (YNK) (Kang et al., 2007), and Red silk (RS) silkworms were reared with mulberry leaves at the NIAS campus in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.Mature silkworm larval powders were generated as previously published (Ji et al., 2015). Briefly, after steamed at 100°C for 130 min using an electric pressure-free cooking machine (Kum Seong Ltd., Boocheon, Korea), mature silkworm larvae were freeze-dried with a freeze-drier (FDT-8612, Operon Ltd. Kimpo, Korea) at -50°C for 24 h. The freeze-dried silkworm larvae were pulverized twice using a hammer mill (HM001, Korean Pulverizing Machinery Co. LTD., Incheon, Korea) and a disk mill (Disk Mill01, Korean Pulverizing Machinery Co. LTD) sequentially (Ji et al., 2015). Proximate analysis of SMSP generated from 3 silkworm varietiesThe amount of H2O in SMSPs generated from 3 different c...

Administration of Steamed and Freeze-Dried Mature Silkworm Larval Powder Prevents Hepatic Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis by Blocking TGF-β/STAT3 Signaling Cascades in Rats

“…These hepatoprotective effects of SMSP are considered to be manifested by the aforementioned active ingredients of SMSP. The previous studies suggest that the health promotion effects of SMSP could be accomplished by the complex actions of several substances [24,51]. Therefore, the liver cancer preventive effect of SMSP is not thought to be caused by one particular ingredient of SMSP.…”

Microbial Community Changes in Silkworms Suspected of Septicemia and Identification of Serratia sp.

“…Silkworms (Bombyx mori), which belong to the family Bombycidae and order Lepidoptera of class Insecta, have mainly been previously used in the textile industry. However, in Korea, as the natural fiber industry has declined owing to the development of artificial fibers, research on the use of silkworms as functional food materials has become active [9,10]. For example, just before forming a cocoon, silkworms produce compounds with various functions, such as preventing Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar levels, and lowering cholesterol; hence, they are attracting attention as raw materials for functional health foods [10,11].…”

“…However, in Korea, as the natural fiber industry has declined owing to the development of artificial fibers, research on the use of silkworms as functional food materials has become active [9,10]. For example, just before forming a cocoon, silkworms produce compounds with various functions, such as preventing Alzheimer's disease, lowering blood sugar levels, and lowering cholesterol; hence, they are attracting attention as raw materials for functional health foods [10,11]. When using silkworms as functional foods, microbial contamination should be managed to improve productivity and ensure hygiene and safety.…”