1-Deoxynojirimycin Content and Alfa-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity and Heat Stability of 1-Deoxynojirimycin in Silkworm Powder

Kazuhisa Yatsunami,Tsutomu Kamei,Kohji Murata

doi:10.4236/fns.2011.22011

Kazuhisa Yatsunami, Tsutomu Kamei + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2011.22011

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Abstract

Silkworm powder containing 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and is promising as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) agent in Japan. Silkworm powder produced in Korea was extracted with 75% ethanol. The extract was derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC-Cl), and DNJ-FMOC content was measured by HPLC. Then, alfa-glucosidase inhibition by silkworm and mulberry powder in pig liver crude enzyme was assayed using 4-nitrophenyl-alfa-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate. Silkworm powder DNJ content (0.39 to 0.58%) was higher than that in mulberry powder (0.08 to 0.12%). The alfa-glucosidase inhibitory activity of silkworm powder was more potent than that of mulberry leaves and green tea. Silkworm powder DNJ was stable upon heating to 121?C for up to 15 min.

Highlights

Silkworm and silkworm droppings have long been used in China and Korea as a folk remedy for the treatment of diabetes
DNJ content in silkworm powder ranged from 0.39% to 0.58%, and that in mulberry powder ranged from 0.08% to 0.12% (Figure 1)
In order to compare whether DNJ content in silkworm powder is higher than in mulberry powder and mulberry food products, it was compared with previously reported DNJ content in mulberry powder and mulberry food products [10,11,12]

Summary

Introduction

Silkworm and silkworm droppings have long been used in China and Korea as a folk remedy for the treatment of diabetes. Silkworm powder containing 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) has α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and is promising as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) agent in Japan. Alfa-glucosidase inhibition by silkworm and mulberry powder in pig liver crude enzyme was assayed using 4-nitrophenyl-alfa-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate. Silkworm powder DNJ content (0.39% to 0.58%) was higher than that in mulberry powder (0.08% to 0.12%).

Results

Conclusion