Nutrient compositions of Bombyx mori mature silkworm larval powders suggest their possible health improvement effects in humans

The nutrient components of 3 differently prepared white jade silkworm (also known as Baek Ok Jam) larval powders (WJSLPs) were examined. A proximate analysis of 3 WJSLPs revealed that steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (SMSP) had the highest protein contents among the 3 WJSLPs. In addition, the ASP, SER, GLY, ALA, TYR, and THR contents in SMSP and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (FMSP) significantly increased compared to those in freeze-dried 3rd day of 5th instar silkworm larval powder (FDSP). Even though SMSP and FMSP had reduced mineral contents compared to those of FDSP, the essential minerals, such as Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, S, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu, were highly enriched in SMSP and FMSP. The second most enriched nutrient in the 3 WJSLPs was crude lipids. The 3 WJSLPs showed high contents of Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, which are one of the most popular health improvement supplements. We recently showed that SMSP could extend the lifespan and prevent the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease in Drosophila models (Nguyen et al., 2016). Thus, further studies in the functionalities of the 3 WJSLPs will reveal their unknown health improvement effects. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection Society.