ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SILK SERICIN FROM SILKWORM<i>BOMBYX MORI</i>

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the free-radical-scavenging activity and antioxidant activity of silk sericin. Silk sericin was prepared from silkworm Bombyx mori and its ability to scavenge hydroxyl, superoxide and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was determined by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. The antioxidant activities of the silk sericin, including lipid peroxidation in the linoleic acid system, reducing power and ferrous-ion-chelating ability, were evaluated. The results showed that silk sericin had a strong scavenging capacity for hydroxyl, superoxide and DPPH radicals. The results also showed that silk sericin had potent antioxidative activity on the peroxidation of linoleic acid. The reducing power and ferrous-ion-chelating ability of silk sericin were significant. These results indicated that silk sericin from silkworm B. mori was a natural antioxidant with potent antioxidative activity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Most of silk sericin must be removed during raw silk production at the reeling mill and other stages of silk processing. At present, silk sericin is mostly discarded in silk processing waste water. If silk sericin is recovered and recycled, it can represent a significant economic and social benefit. Silk sericin is a natural macromolecular protein derived from the silkworm Bombyx mori. Silk sericin is useful because of its antioxidant activity. Silk sericin can be cross linked, copolymerized and blended with other macromolecular materials, especially artificial polymers, to produce materials with improved properties. The protein is also used as an improving reagent or a coating material for natural and artificial fibers, fabrics and articles. The materials modified with silk sericin and sericin composites are useful as degradable biomaterials, biomedical materials and functional membranes.

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