• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2015

It is known that silk protein supports effectively proliferation of cell such as insect cell and hybridoma cell. Although there are many varieties of Bombyx mori silkworm, the effect of silkworm varieties on cell proliferation has not been considered in detail. We studied that characteristics of silk cocoon obtained from Baegokjam, Kumokjam, Daeseongjam silkworm varieties and whether silk protein affected cell proliferation or not. Silk sericin was prepared under high temperature and high pressure condition. Silk fibroin was prepared using $CaCl_2:H_2O:EtOH$ with different dissolution time. As a result, there are differences in silk cocoon from different silkworm varieties about cell proliferation. The proliferation was accelerated in the presence of Baegokjam silk sericin and Kumokjam silk fibroin with 5hr dissolution time. We expect that silk proteins could be a preferable culture medium supplement for stimulating the proliferation of cell. Then, this results suggest silk as a new material for medium supplement replacing with fetal bovine serum.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2012

In our previous studies, dietary supplements of silk protein, sericin, and fibroin, were beneficial for improving epidermal levels of ceramides, which are the major lipids for maintaining the epidermal barrier. In this study, we investigated the dietary effects of silk protein on epidermal levels of free sphingoid bases and their phosphates such as $C_{18}$ sphingosine (So), $C_{18}$ sphinganine (Sa), $C_{18}$ sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and $C_{18}$ sphinganine-1-phosphate (Sa1P), which are either synthetic substrate or degradative metabolites of ceramides. Forty-five male NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD), were divided into three groups: group CA was an atopic control and fed a control diet, group S was fed a 1% sericin diet, and group F was fed a 1% fibroin diet. Fifteen male BALB/c mice served as group C (control group) and were fed the control diet. All mice were fed with diets and water $ad$ $libitum$ for 10 weeks. Sa in group CA was lower than that in group C, but So in group CA was similar to that in group C. So and Sa were higher in groups S and F than those in group CA; So level was even higher than that in group C, and Sa level was similar to that of group C. The So/Sa ratio in group CA, which is reported to increase in AD, was significantly higher than that of group C. The So/Sa ratio was lower in groups S and F than that in group CA, and decreased further in group F. However, S1P and Sa1P in groups S and F were similar to those in group CA. Taken together, we demonstrated that silk protein, sericin and fibroin dietary supplements, increased So and Sa levels, and decreased the So/Sa ratio.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2006

Free amino acids in epidermis function as a major component of Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), which maintains the optimal level of water in skin even at the low humidity. In fact, the depletion of free amino acids is reported in the epidermis of atopic dermatitis, the skin condition involving dryness. As an effort searching the dietary source for improving the level of water and free amino acid in epidermis, the dietary effects of silk protein, sericin (S) and fibroin (F) on trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), and plasma and epidermal levels of free amino acids were compared in this study. Thirty of male NC/Nga mice, an animal model of atopic dermatitis, were divided into three groups: group CA as an atopic control with control diet, group S: 1% sericin diet and group F: 1% fibroin diet. Ten of male BALB/c mice were served as group C (control group) with control diet. All mice were fed on diet and water ad libitum for 10weeks. Dry skin condition was established in group CA as TEWL was increased (148.7% of group C). In parallel, epidermal level of glutamate, one of major amino acids functioning as NMF, was dramatically decreased and epidermal levels of methionine and alanine were inversely elevated. Dietary supplementation of sericin (group S) reduced TEWL at the similar level with group C and increased epidermal levels of glutamate as well as serine and glycine, the other major amino acids as NMF. Despite a marked decrease of methionine and alanine, the reduction of TEWL and epidermal levels of glutamate, serine and glycine of group F were less than of group S. Furthermore, in contrast to similar levels of other free amino acids in plasma and epidermis of group S and group C, plasma and epidermal levels of other free amino acids, specifically phenylalanine, isoleucine, cysteine and tyrosine in epidermis of group F, were significantly higher than of group C. Together, our data demonstrate that dietary supplementation of sericin is more effective at improving dry skin condition that paralleled with the normalization of free amino acids in plasma and epidermis of NC/Nga mice.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2002

Silk proteins consist of two major proteins, fibroin and sericin. There is currently an enormous reawakening of interest in these silk proteins as a biomaterial due to their mechanical and biological properties based on the detailed findings. Novel method for determination of the crystalline structure of silk proteins in an atomic level using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was reviewed. Recent application of silks to biomaterials and prospects for future were discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1249-1253
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• 2010

Sericin is a type of high molecular weight water-soluble glycoprotein surrounding fibroin (silk protein) that has been used as a cell culture supplement and accelerates cell proliferation in various serum-free media. The purpose of this study was to investigate the enhancing effect of thyroglobulin (Tg) secretion by sericin in thyrocytes, FRTL-5 cells. While Tg-mRNA expression was not enhanced, a secreted form of Tg was obviously increased by sericin. In this status, expression of both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) molecular chaperones (Bip & calreticulin) and ER membrane proteins (IRE1, PERK & ATF6) was enhanced. The proximal step of IRE1, XBP1 mRNA splicing was slightly detected however, the proximal step of PERK, phosphorylation of $eIF2{\alpha}$, was changeless. In addition, sericin enhanced cell viability by the MTT assay. The above results showing the ability of sericin to promote protein production demonstrated its potential usefulness as a new biomaterial.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2019

Oral gargling solution has been used for the control of halitosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the level of hydrogen sulphide concentration between silk oral gargling solution and commercially available oral gargling solution. Total 21 volunteers were included in this study. The relative level of hydrogen sulphide concentration was calculated to the baseline level. In terms of the primary endpoint of the trial, relative level of hydrogen sulphide concentration was $50.84{\pm}33.19%$ with silk group, versus $71.07{\pm}21.83%$ with Listerine group ($P_{non-inferiority}=0.003$). In conclusion, the results of oral gargling with a silk protein for healthy individual were non-inferior to oral gargling with Listerine for hydrogen sulphide concentration reduction.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.375-380
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• 2007

To recover sericin protein from by-product in silk production process, a polyethersulfone hollow fiber ultra-filtration membrane module was used. The soap in the degummed solution was precipitated by calcium chloride. The influence of membrane module of submerged and external type on membrane fouling was investigated. The effect of soap and protein on the membrane fouling in the external type membrane module was also studied. The removal of soap resulted in decreasing the membrane fouling. It was shown that the protein and the membrane were affected by the soap.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.680-686
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• 2010

Silk sericin protein was hydrolyzed by seven proteolytic enzymes in order to examine the effectiveness of the hydrolysates in binding calcium. The amino acid nitrogen content of hydrolysates from Flavourzyme was higher than that for other enzymes, and its calcium binding capacity showed a dose-dependent increase. We examined the effects of calcium binding peptide from sericin hydolysates on the bioavailability of Ca-deficient rats. Three-week-old male rats were fed an Ca-deficient diet for three weeks. Rats were divided into four groups (DD: non-treated group on calcium deficient diet; DD+MC: milk-calcium treated group; DD+OC: organic calcium made using sericin hydolysates; and DD+IC: inorganic calcium ($CaCl_2$). After oral administration of calcium supplements for one week, the calcium content of the serum and liver were significantly higher in DD+OC ($101.7{\mu}g$/mL and $49.3{\mu}g$/mL) and DD+MC ($83.6{\mu}g$/mL and $42.8{\mu}g$/mL) than DD ($86.3{\mu}g$/mL and $43.4{\mu}g$/mL). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content in the treated groups was significantly lower than DD, but no significant difference among groups was shown. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels did not show any significant difference between groups. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly reduced compared to the DD group. In conclusion, binding calcium to peptides from sericin hydrolysates seems to improve its bioavailability, and to hasten the cure of calcium deficiency in experimental rats.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 1975

This study is to investigate the content of crude protein intruded in the sericin of cocoon shell and pupa by treatment of buffer solution (pH 1 to pH 13) 20 ml per 1 gram for 30 and 60 minutes at 30$^{\circ}C$, 60$^{\circ}C$ and 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The quantity of total crude protein obtained from cocoon shell and pupa by treatment during 30 minutes at 30$^{\circ}C$ was dissolved as the largest quantity of 11.874 mg/g at pH 1 and l5.93mg/g at pH 13, but dissolved the smallest quantity 1.75g/g at pH 5 as known. and tile quantity of crude protein treated for 60 minutes is 13.437mg/g at pH 1 and 22.50mg/g at pH 13. Also, the smallest quantity is 2. 813mg/g at pH 5 as known. 2. By the treatment during 30 minutes at 60$^{\circ}C$, the dissolved largest quantity was 13.12mg/g at pH 1 and 21.875 mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 2.375mg/g at pH 5 as known After treatment for 60 minutes at 60$^{\circ}C$, the dissolved largest quantity was 17.500 mg/g at pH 1 and 31.56mg/g at pH 13, bu the smallest quantity is 3.849 mg/g at pH 5. 3. The dissolved crude protein from the cocoon shell and pupa by treatment for 30 minutes at 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$ was the largest quantity of 147.000mg/g at pH 1 and 398. 125mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 75.00mg/g at pH 5 as known. After treatment for 60 minutes at 100${\pm}$2$^{\circ}C$, the largest quantity was 253.76 mg/g at pH 1 and 460.625mg/g at pH 13, but the smallest quantity is 139.375mg/g at pH 5 as known. 4. The dissolved crude protein from the cocoon shell and pupa was not different in quantity by treatment at 30$^{\circ}C$ or 60$^{\circ}C$. But dissolved crude protein was large quantity from cocoon shell more than pupa, as known. 5. The treatment of cocoon shell and pupa during 60 minutes at 100${\pm}$20$^{\circ}C$ was increased to the dissolved largest quantity of crude protein of 19.20％ at pH 1 and 22. 18％ at pH 13 from the cocoon shell and 6. 12％ at pH, an d 23.87％ at pH 13 from the pupa. But dissolved crude protein was increased to the larger quantity from pupa more than cocoon shell.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2024

Functional foods, introduced in the early 1980s, offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition and are increasingly demanded due to growing consumer awareness of diet-health relationships. This review explores insect-based functional foods, highlighting their nutritional benefits, health implications, and applications. Edible insects, such as crickets, mealworms, and locusts, are rich in protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, making them a promising solution for food security and sustainability. Insect-based foods contribute to weight management, cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory properties, gut health, and potential anti-cancer benefits. Despite most insects being low in calcium and potassium, they are high in phosphorus and, to a lesser extent, magnesium. Active components like royal jelly, bee pollen, and extracts from Tenebrio molitor and Periplaneta americana L. have shown potential in osteoporosis prevention by improving bone density and reducing bone resorption. Silk sericin-based functional foods also exhibit preventive and therapeutic effects against bone loss. However, challenges such as regulatory barriers, food safety concerns, consumer acceptance, potential allergenicity, and the need for standardization and quality control must be addressed. This review underscores the potential of insect-based functional foods in enhancing health and well-being, particularly for osteoporosis prevention, and highlights the need for further research and regulatory harmonization to facilitate their adoption.