Abstract
The present study aimed to assess the effect of honey obtained from different bee species and protein sources on the metabolic changes in mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The results of experiment showed that oral administration of honey and protein sources to silkworm larvae during late-age instars daily once significantly changed metabolic processes. Among the various treatments and concentrations tested, 5 per cent Trigona iridipennis honey significantly increased the carbohydrate in haemolymph (16.71 mg/mL) and fat body (12.38 mg/g) over all other treatments. The lipid content in haemolymph (23.03 mg/mL) and fat body (45.38 mg/g) of silkworm were also found to be superior in the larval batch treated with 5 per cent T. iridipennis. Apart from this, the same treatment was showed statistical superiority in increasing the activity of enzymes viz., aspartate aminotransferase (269.78 µg/mL) and alanine aminotransferase (563.25 µg/mL), which play an important role in protein metabolism.
Highlights
The silkworm, Bombyx mori L, secretes silk, a continuous and lustrous fibre having high value
Keeping in view the high nutritional and medicinal status of honey, the studies were carried out to know the impact of honey from different bee species and protein sources on the carbohydrate and lipid content in haemolymph and fat body and the activity of transaminase enzymes in mulberry silkworm
The oral application of honey and protein sources to silkworm larvae through mulberry leaves greatly improved the level of haemolymph carbohydrate (Fig. 1)
Summary
The silkworm, Bombyx mori L, secretes silk, a continuous and lustrous fibre having high value. A wide array of studies conducted on the enrichment of mulberry with various exogenous modulators having essential nutrients viz., vitamins, enzymes, hormones, minerals and amino acids have shown significant enhancement in biological as well as the cocoon characters of silkworm (Khan and Saha, 1995; Etebari et al, 2004; Bhattacharya and Kaliwal, 2005; Rahmathulla et al, 2007; Radjabi et al, 2010; Chakrabarthy and Kaliwal, 2012; Kavitha et al, 2014) One such exogenous modulator that has attracted the attention of researchers is honey (Council of European Union, 2002). Keeping in view the high nutritional and medicinal status of honey, the studies were carried out to know the impact of honey from different bee species and protein sources on the carbohydrate and lipid content in haemolymph and fat body and the activity of transaminase enzymes in mulberry silkworm
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