• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.304-308
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• 2006

To extract insoluble proteins from silkworm pupa meal, the meal was treated with pretense produced by Bacillus sp. JH-209. The extraction of insoluble silkworm pupa protein was enhanced at alkaline pHs ranged from 7 to 11 by treatment with the protease. The optimum extraction temperature was $40^{\circ}C$ for in soluble protein treated with pretense. The optimum protease treatment time for extraction of protein was 11 hrs and optimum amount of enzyme treated for extraction of protein was 60 Unit, respectively. The treatment of enzyme extracted more protein than ordinary extraction method without pretense. The foaming capacity, foaming stability, emulsion capacity, and emulsion stability of silkworm pupa meal protein extracted by the treatment of the enzymes increased at all pH ranges. Further more oil absorption as well as water absorption capacities of the protein extracted by the treatment of the enzymes were also increased.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Silkworm pupa has been used as an edible insect with the high quality of protein and unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, antioxidant activities of pupa according to variety, pupation day, sex, and extraction solvent were analyzed. The 30% ethanol extract showed highest radical scavenging activity compared with the DW, hexane, and 70-100% ethanol extracts. In the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay according to the type of pupa, the antioxidant effect was increased in female with the early stage of pupation day. In cell-based assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was decreased in pupa groups by -30 to -50% followed by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) treatment. The ROS levels were significantly reduced in 7^th day in each variety. In conclusion, the free radical and ROS scavenging effects were increased in female pupa with the early pupation day. The result could be used for development of bioactive materials using silkworm pupa.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.52-58
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• 2021

The article presents the results of the content of the chemical and biochemical composition of the pupa of the wild silkworm Saturnia pyri belonging to the family Saturniidae, species of Lepidoptera. The nutritional value of silkworm Saturnia pyri pupae was evaluated, which contained 51% dry matter, 52.50% crude protein, 27.89% fat, 10.50% chitin fibers, 2.5% ash and 27 macro- and microelements and 25 mg alpha tocopherols in 100 g oil. The X-ray fluorescence method was used to determine the content of mineral elements in the pupa of the silkworm Saturnia pyri. It was revealed that the pupa of this type of silkworm contains 25 elements, of which the relative amount of K, Mg, Na, Ca, Al is much higher than other elements.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.593-598
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• 2005

Osteoporosis is recognized as one of the major hormonal deficiency diseases, especially in menopausal women and the elderly. When the estrogen level is reduced in the body, local factors, which are known to be related with bone resorption, are increased and promote osteoclastogenesis. In our previous study, we validated the estrogenicity of silkworm pupa. In this study, we investigated the effect of silkworm pupa extract (SPE) on the function of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. SPE (10 and $50\;{\mu}g/mL$) significantly elevated cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and collagen content in the cells. The effect of SPE ($50\;{\mu}g/mL$) in increasing cell viability, ALP activity, and collagen content was completely inhibited by the presence of $10^{-6}\;M$ of cycloheximide and $10^{-6}\;M$ of tamoxifen, suggesting that SPE's effect results from a newly synthesized, protein component and that it might be partly involved in estrogen action. Furthermore, we examined the effect of SPE on the $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and production of local factors in osteoblasts. Treatment with SPE ($50\;{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the 0.2 mM $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6 and nitric oxide (NO) in osteoblasts. Our data indicate that the enhancement of osteoblast function by silkworm pupa may prevent osteoporosis and inflammatory bone diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2012

Tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta Drury experiences extreme temperature stress conditions during its life cycle particularly during diapauses and first crop. The present study witnessed the impact of high temperature on some biochemical profiles and egg production (fecundity) of semi-domesticated Daba and Shorea robusta (Sal) based wild ecorace Laria during seed cocoon (pupa) preservation. Cocoons of Daba and Laria were treated with high temperature at $40^{\circ}C$ for 10 days in a BOD incubator. The protein profile and carbohydrate content in the hemolymph and fat body and total haemocyte count (THC) in the hemolymph of pupa were investigated. Further, the fecundity and fertility of egg was assessed. Significant increase in the protein concentration was observed in the hemolymph with reduction in the fat body (p<0.05). The difference in protein concentration was highly significant between the semidomesticated Daba and wild ecorace Laria (p<0.05). High pupal mortality (20%) and reduced fecundity (10-15%) in Daba was noticed compared to wild Laria. Also an increased THC (>28000) was recorded in Laria. The study infers the potentials of wild ecoraces in sustaining the extreme temperature conditions and need of adopting suitable package of practices for the preservation of diapause seed cocoons during extreme summer conditions. There is possibility to introgression thermal stress resistant traits in the semi-domesticated races of tasar silkworm by resorting to conventional breeding plans with wild races and keeping the thermal stress induced response as markers.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2021

Silkworm pupae have been utilized as a food source and have high-quality proteins and fatty acids. However, studies on the nutritional composition of pupae according to their variety, developmental stage, and sex have not been conducted. In this study, the nutritional composition of four Korean silk varieties (Baegokjam, BG; Goldensilk, GS; Juhwangjam, JH; and YeonNokjam, YN) were analyzed according to developmental stage and sex. The main ingredient of the pupa was protein, and the protein levels were higher in females than in males. Fat levels were high in males and increased in YN and GS during the late stage but decreased in BG. Fiber content rapidly increased in the late stages, and the lowest content was observed in BG. The pupae contained all essential amino acids, which were detected at higher ratios in females with a high protein content. Fatty acids had a different predominance depending on the variety. Oleic acid level was high in BG, linoleic acid and linolenic acid levels were high in GS, and palmitic acid and stearic acid levels were high in JH. In the mineral analysis, zinc was dominant in BG, whereas calcium and iron levels were relatively low. Zinc level was low in GS, and calcium and magnesium levels were high in JH. Potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels were low in YN. The silkworm pupae showed differences in components according to their variety, sex, and developmental stage; therefore, selecting a variety suitable for its purpose is necessary.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2003

Sericulture is a traditional agro-industry, which involves mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, has made great contributes to the human civilization. With the development of national economy and modem technology, mulberry and silkworm are being used to develop products with functionality besides the traditional cocoon production in China. In this paper, we brief the current developing situation of sericultural byproducts with functionality in the following aspects. (1) Functional products from silkworm larvae: silkworm powder, white muscardine silkworm, isolation and purification of anti-bacterial proteins from the larvae and production of medically valuable substances by Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) vector. (2) Utilization of silkworm feces: for pillow and for isolation of chlorophyll etc. (3) Production of valuable Chinese traditional medicine like Cordyceps sinensis with pupae, functional utilization of pupa protein and chitin. (4) Silk as additives to cosmetics, silk food and medical materials. (5) Functional utilization of mulberry: cultivation of edible fungus on mulberry shoots as medium, mulberry fruit drinks, mulberry tea, etc. The prospect of sericultural byproduct industry in China is also discussed.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to develop a seasoning paste fermented by Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis using three edible insects: Tenebrio molitor larvae, Gryllus bimaculatus, and Bombyx mori pupa. No significant changes in pH and titratable acidity were observed between the insect pastes and soybean control during a 5-week fermentation process. The amino nitrogen was 0.35-0.50% (w/w) in the early stage of the fermentation and increased to 0.72-0.78%. The total nitrogen was 2.36-3.62% (w/w) in the early stage and was preserved during the fermentation period. Free amino acids of the insect pastes were similar to those in soybean paste. In general, the fermented insect pastes showed a lower flavor and color than soybean paste but B. mori pupa-fermented paste did not show any significant difference in preference from soybean. Glutamate, aspartate, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine, and serine were found to affect taste preference. It was possible to ferment edible insect protein to produce a fermented seasoning paste like Korean doenjang.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 2021

Supplement of high-protein food plays an important role in improving the symptoms of malnutrition and the immune capacity of the body, but the association of high-protein diet and gut microbiota remained unaddressed. Here, we systematically analyzed the internal organs and gut microbiota in C57(WT) or PD-1H-depleted (KO) mice (T cells were activated) fed with pupae or feed for six weeks. We observed that the body weight gain in the mice fed with pupae increased less significantly than that of the feed group, while the villi and small intestine lengths in the pupa group were reduced compared with that of mice given feed. However, the average body weight of the KO mice increased compared with that of the WT mice fed with pupae or feed. Pupae increased the concentration of blood glucose in WT, but not in KO mice. Moreover, in the feed group, there was no difference in the weight of the internal organs between the WT and KO mice, but in the pupae-fed group, liver weight was decreased and spleen weight was increased compared with that of KO mice. The amounts/plural/amounts of Melainabacteria, Chloroflexi, and Armatimonadetes were specifically upregulated by pupae, and this upregulation was weakened or eliminated by PD-1H depletion. Some bacteria with high abundance in the feed-fed KO mice, such as Deferribacteres, Melainabacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia, were decreased in pupae-fed KO mice, and Proteobacteria and Deinococcus were specifically enriched in pupae-fed KO mice. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Akkermansia were associated with weight loss in the pupae-fed group while Lachnospiraceae and Anaerobiospirillum were related glucose metabolism and energy consumption. Based on high-throughput sequencing, we discovered that some gut bacteria specifically regulated the metabolism of a high-protein diet, and PD-1H deficiency improved life quality and sustained blood glucose. Moreover, PD-1H responses to high-protein diet through modulating the type and quantity of gut bacteria. These findings provide evidence about the association among gut microbiota, T cell activation (for PD-1H depletion) and high-protein diet metabolism, have important theoretical significance for nutrition and health research.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.2
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• pp.1-31
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• 1962

The purpose of this treatise is to prove the presence of cystine in silk fiber through wide sampling throughout all the sericultural processes of Bombyx mori.; also to show that disulfide cross linkages exist in the silk fiber. The conclusions reached were as follows: 1. Crystalline cystine was obtained from silk fibroin using Folin's Method. 2. Analytical data showing the cystine content of silk fiber and its related materials were obtained using Sullvan's Method as follows: Material Percent Cystine A. Mulberry leaf protein 0.175 B. Silkworm egg 0.33 C. Silkworm Body, matured, fat extracted, without silk gland 0.41 D. Silk gland, matured 1.23 E. Silkworm feces none F. Silkworm pupa, fat extracted 0.30 G. Silkworm moth, fat extracted 0.60 H. Raw Silk 0.22 I. Fibroin 0.175 J. Sericin 0.30 3. The presence of cystine in the silkworm was substantiated the existence of 0.175 % methionine in mulberry leaves and 0.12% methionine in the silk gland. 4. Part of the sulfhydryl compounds in the silk gland is believed to transfer to serine and methionine, with the former being secreted into the liquid silk finally as silk fiber and the latter used for nutritive purposes in the growing of silk gland tissue. 5. The cystine content is variable by mulberry species, silkworm species, sex, breeding process, and other culturing environments. 6. Hybrid silkworms require more nutritive amino acids for effective growth than the original parents, and secrete less of them as silk fiber. 7. From such an observation, the amino acid composition of silk fiber is believed to be fairly flexible. Cystine if included in the amorphous part of the fiber, especially in sericin. 8. The result from enriching the silkworm diet with pure cystine or wool cystine did not result in any advantage, therefore it is believed that the natural cystine and methionine contents in the mulberry leafaregoodenoughforsilkwormnutrition. 9. The disulfide cross linkage in silk fiber was verified by using the Harris Method. Contraction took place following the treatment of the fiber with various salts and acids. Comparisons were made with wool fiber. 10. During these experiments, the fibrious structure of silk fiber and the net-globular liquid form were photographed microscopically. It is believed that the globules of liquid silk are net-formed by the inter attraction of the OH ion of the globular peptide and the H ion of water as shown by the hair cracking behavior of the film. The net-globular protein precipitation from the mulberry protein solution showed that mulberry is a proper diet for the formation of fibrous protein in the silk fiber. 11. The significance of the presence of cystine in silk fiber as emphasized in this paper should result in modification of the general conception that cystine is absent from this fiber. NOTICE: A part of this treatise was presented at the annual Korea Sericultural Society meeting held in 1961.