• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1010-1018
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• 2021

Although varieties of silkworms, which have recently attracted attention as a health functional food, are being produced, studies on the differences in the functionality of different silkworm varieties are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant activities of different silkworm breeds bred in domestic farms were analyzed, and the potential for their cultivation as specialized varieties with excellent antioxidant function was investigated. To compare antioxidant activity, four varieties of silkworms, white Bakokjam, Golden silk, Yeonokjam, and Hanseongjam, were bred; water and ethanol extracts of these silkworms were prepared on the 3rd and 5th days of the 5th instar larval stage. The highest extraction yield was seen for the water extract from the Golden silk variety on the 3rd day of the 5th instar; the highest total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents were observed for the water extract (86.11±4.04 ㎍/mg GE) and 70% (v/v) ethanol extract (46.70±2.81 ㎍/mg QE). Bakokjam and Yeonokjam exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity of up to 78% and showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity (85%) at pH 1.2. The maximum SOD-like activity of Yeonokjam was about 47%. Furthermore, 48 ㎍/ml of the Yeonokjam extract showed a reducing power of 0.7 abs, which was the best among the four varieties. Considering these results, the Yeonokjam (on the 3rd day of the 5th instar) had antioxidant activity and represents a silkworm cultivar that would be suitable for cultivation as a health food.