Identification and applications of neuroactive silk proteins: a narrative review

In traditional medicine, natural silk is regarded as a cognitive enhancer and a cure for ameliorating the symptoms of heart disease, atherosclerosis, and metabolic disorders. In this review, general characteristics of both silk proteins, fibroin and sericin, extracted from silkworm Bombyx mori and their potential use in the neuronal disorders was discussed. Evidence shows that silk proteins exhibit neuroprotective effects in models of neurotoxicity. The antioxidant, neuroprotective, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory mechanisms of silk proteins could prove promising in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to their excellent neurocompatibility and physicochemical properties, silk proteins have been used as scaffolds and drug delivery materials in the neuronal tissue engineering. These data support the potential of silk proteins as an effective complementary agent for central and peripheral neurological disorders.