J Biomed Res.  2013 Mar;14(1):40-46.

Red ginseng extract increases the functional components of silkworm Bombyx mori L. used as an anti-diabetes medicinal resource

• Son MW
• Moon DI
• Shin EH
• Oh HG
• Hong S
• Han SJ
• Lee HA
• Chung YH
• Kim O

Abstract

The anti-diabetes mechanism of silkworm Bombyx mori L. powder and extracts was found to inhibit the activity of alpha-glycosidase. The major functional component of silkworm powder was 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ), which exerts a blood glucose-lowering effect. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of the supplements, including red ginseng extract on the functional components of silkworm. Fifty silkworm larvae were divided into the control group (Con, N=50), group A (A, artificial diet 95% and mulberry leaf powder 5%), group B (B, artificial diet 95% and mulberry powder 5%), group C (C, artificial diet 95% and Rubus coreanus remainders 5%), group D (D, artificial diet 95% and red ginseng extract 5%), and group E (E, artificial diet 95% and yeast powder (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Body weights and length of silkworm larvae showed significant improvement in group A, D. In particular, the growth rate in group D (artificial diet 95% and red ginseng extract 5%) was larger than that of Con. In addition, the results showed that 1-DNJ concentration was significantly largest in group D. From these results, it is concluded that the addition of red ginseng extract may be effective for larval growth and 1-DNJ accumulation in silkworm rearing with an artificial diet.

Keyword

Bambyx mori L.; artificial diet; red ginseng; mulberry leaf; 1-DNJ

MeSH Terms

1-Deoxynojirimycin
Body Weight
Bombyx
Diet
Larva
Morus
Panax
Yeasts
1-Deoxynojirimycin