Multidimensional Analysis of Silkworm Cocoons Produced with Different Feeding Diets

Area of Science:

• Sericulture and Materials Science
• Biochemistry and Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Artificial diets in sericulture produce cocoons with differing properties compared to traditional mulberry leaf feeding.
• Lack of reliable methods to differentiate these cocoons hinders quality control in the silk industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a multidimensional analysis method for distinguishing between mulberry leaf-fed (Mul-fed) and artificial diet-fed (Art-fed) silkworm cocoons.
• To identify key chemical and structural differences indicative of feeding methods.

Main Methods:

• Multidimensional analysis integrating Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, amino acid analysis, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
• Biomarker identification and quantification.
• In vitro bioactivity assays of extracted cocoon materials.

Main Results:

• SEM revealed superior morphological integrity and less sericin damage in Mul-fed cocoons post-extraction.
• UPLC-MS identified quercitrin and quercetin enrichment in Mul-fed cocoons, and daidzein and genistein in Art-fed cocoons.
• Mul-fed cocoon extracts exhibited significantly higher bioactivity in vitro.

Conclusions:

• The developed multidimensional method reliably distinguishes between Mul-fed and Art-fed cocoons.
• Specific biomarkers (quercitrin, quercetin, daidzein, genistein) are indicative of feeding methods.
• Mul-fed cocoons possess superior structural and bioactive properties, crucial for quality assessment and silk product development.