Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antioxidant and cholesterol regulatory effect of flavonoid-rich silk sericin

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Food Science and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cholesterol is a component of cell membranes and a precursor of hormones, and excess levels are associated with disease development; therefore, it must be maintained within the normal range. Silkworm cocoons are known to contain bioactive substances. Therefore, we compared the bioactivities of pigmented and white silkworm cocoons. Sericin extract of the Yeonnokjam (YN) variety, which contained a high flavonoid content, showed the highest antioxidant activity and inhibited cholesterol biosynthetic enzyme activity. YN-fed mice showed a 26% reduction in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. In addition, a 27% decrease in cholesterol accumulation in the liver was observed. Mechanistically, YN reduced the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 proteins by 34 and 13%, respectively. In conclusion, YN suppresses cholesterol synthesis in the liver and stimulates bile acid secretion, which contributes to reduction in cholesterol levels, suggesting its potential as a cholesterol-lowering agent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmadi M, Lanphear B. The impact of clinical and population strategies on coronary heart disease mortality: an assessment of Rose’s big idea. BMC Public Health. 22: 1-9 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornier MA, Dabelea D, Hernandez TL, Lindstrom RC, Steig AJ, Stob NR, Eckel RH. The metabolic syndrome. Endocrine Reviews. 29: 777-822 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Correa EE, Lopera DOG, Restrepo SG, Ossa-Orozco CP. Effective sericin-fibroin separation from Bombyx mori silkworms fibers and low-cost salt removal from fibroin solution. Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia. 94: 97-101 (2020)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Csonka C, Sárközy M, Pipicz M, Dux L, Csont T. Modulation of hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative/nitrative stress in the heart. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2016: 3863726 (2016)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Go GW, Mani A. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family orchestrates cholesterol homeostasis. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 85: 19 (2012)

  • Guo X, Wang L, Xia X, Wang P, Li X. Effects of atorvastatin and/or probucol on recovery of atherosclerosis in high-fat-diet-fed apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 109: 1445-1453 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirayama C, Ono H, Tamura Y, Konno K, Nakamura M. Regioselective formation of quercetin 5-O-glucoside from orally administered quercetin in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Phytochemistry, 69: 1141-1149 (2008)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ju WT, Kim KY, Sung GB, Kim YS. Quantitative analysis of rutin content using silkworm genetic resources. International Journal of Industrial Entomology. 31: 56-61 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalaycıoğlu Z, Erim FB. Total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, and bioactive ingredients of juices from pomegranate cultivars worldwide. Food chemistry. 221: 496-507 (2017)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SJ, Um IC. Effect of silkworm variety on characteristics of raw sericin in silk. Fibers and Polymers. 20: 271-279 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JH, Jo YY, Kim SW, Kweon H. Antioxidant capacity of silkworm pupa according to extraction condition, variety, pupation time, and sex. International Journal of Industrial Entomology. 43: 59-66 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Kim SH, Jo YY, Kim SW, Kim HB, Kweon H, Ju WT. Characterization of mulberry root bark extracts (Morus alba L.) based on the extraction temperature and solvent. International Journal of Industrial Entomology. 41: 36-44 (2020)

  • Lee JH, Kim YJ, Kim K, Kim HB, Kweon H. The Juhwangjam (JH) 3 rd day of fifth instar silkworm exhibits antioxidative properties and prevents high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. International Journal of Industrial Entomology. 45: 126-130 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoudi S, Khali M, Benkhaled A, Benamirouche K, Baiti I. Phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaf extracts from ten Algerian Ficus carica L. varieties. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 6: 239-245 (2016)

  • Nhu-Trang TT, Nguyen QD, Cong-Hau N, Anh-Dao LT, Behra P. Characteristics and relationships between total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacities, and the content of caffeine, gallic acid, and major catechins in wild/ancient and cultivated teas in Vietnam. Molecules. 28: 3470 (2023)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pandak WM, Schwarz C, Hylemon PB, Mallonee D, Valerie K, Heuman DM, Fisher RA, Redford K, Vlahcevic ZR. Effects of CYP7A1 overexpression on cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 281: G878-G889 (2001)

  • Pietta PG. Flavonoids as antioxidants. Journal of natural products 63: 1035-1042 (2000)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy R, Jiang Q, Aramwit P, Reddy N. Litter to leaf: The unexplored potential of silk byproducts. Trends in Biotechnology. 39: 706-718 (2021)

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudel LL, Lee RG, Parini P. ACAT2 is a target for treatment of coronary heart disease associated with hypercholesterolemia. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 25: 1112-1118 (2005)

  • Russell DW. Cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy. 6: 103-110 (1992)

  • Ryu KS, Lee HS, Kim KY, Kim MJ, Sung GB, Ji SD, Kang PD. 1-Deoxynojirimycin content and blood glucose-lowering effect of silkworm (Bombyx mori) extract powder. International Journal of Industrial Entomology. 27: 237-242 (2013)

  • Sakudoh T, Kuwazaki S, Iizuka T, Narukawa J, Yamamoto K, Uchino K, Tsuchida K. CD36 homolog divergence is responsible for the selectivity of carotenoid species migration to the silk gland of the silkworm Bombyx mori [s]. Journal of Lipid Research. 54: 482-495 (2013)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schonewille M, de Boer JF, Mele L, Wolters H, Bloks VW, Wolters JC, Kuivenhoven JA, Tietge UJF, Brufau G, Groen AK. 2016. Statins increase hepatic cholesterol synthesis and stimulate fecal cholesterol elimination in mice. Journal of Lipid Research. 57: 1455-1464 (2016)

  • Shi Q, Chen J, Zou X, Tang X. Intracellular cholesterol synthesis and transport. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 10: 819281 (2022)

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the ‘Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development’ (Grant No. PJ01510702) and the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, 55365, South Korea

    Ji Hae Lee, HaeYong Kweon, Hyun-bok Kim, Seong Ryul Kim, Seong-Wan Kim, Jong Woo Park & Sang Kuk Kang

  2. Korean Medicine-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daegu, South Korea

    Yeon-Ji Kim & Kyungho Kim

Authors
  1. Ji Hae Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yeon-Ji Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kyungho Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. HaeYong Kweon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hyun-bok Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Seong Ryul Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Seong-Wan Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jong Woo Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sang Kuk Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ji Hae Lee.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

None of the authors of this study have any financial interest or conflict with industries or parties.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, J.H., Kim, YJ., Kim, K. et al. Antioxidant and cholesterol regulatory effect of flavonoid-rich silk sericin. Food Sci Biotechnol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-024-01527-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-024-01527-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation