The Capacity of Silkworm Cocoon Water to Mitigate the Level of Oxidative Stress in Aged Rats

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the capacity of silkworm cocoon water (SCW) to mitigate the level of oxidative stress in aged rats.MethodsThe samples were processed by simulating the traditional SCW production process, and the SCW components were examined. The 16-month-old rats were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups that were treated with different doses of SCW, and 1 negative control group according to serum malonaldehyde (MDA) content, with 10 rats in each group. Experimental groups were fed SCW at doses of 500, 250, 125 mg/kg body weight, respectively, and the negative control group was given pure water, once a day, for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, the contents of lipid oxidation products (MDA), protein oxidation products (carbonyl), antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px), and antioxidant substances (GSH) were measured.ResultsThe crude protein content of SCW was 1 640 mg/100 g, the free amino acid content was 18 mg/100 g, and the hydrolyzed amino acid content was 1 700 mg/100 g. Serine (30.59%), aspartate (18.82%), glycine (10.00%), and threonine (8.24%) were the main hydrolyzed amino acids in SCW. Compared with the negative control group, SCW reduced the contents of MDA and protein carbonyl in the serum and tissue (P < 0.05), but increased the contents of GSH in the serum and tissue, the activity of SOD in tissue, and the activity of CAT and GSH-Px in the serum and tissue of aged rats (P < 0.05).ConclusionSCW has the effect of improving oxidative stress in aged rats.

Keywords

• silkworm cocoon water
• sericin
• aged rats
• oxidative stress