The Secret Behind Silkworm's Hardy Stomachs
ScienceDaily (May 30, 2008)
— Silkworms have a unique ability to eat toxic mulberry leaves without
feeling ill, and researchers have come one step closer to understanding
why: silkworms contain a special digestive enzyme that is not affected
by mulberry's toxic chemicals.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527170509.htm
Mulberry leaves contain an extremely high amount of alkaloids that
inhibit enzymes that break down sucrose (sugar), and thus are
potentially quite toxic. However, one type of sucrase called
beta-fructofuranosidase is not affected by these alkaloids.
Until now, this enzyme has not been found in any animals, but Toru
Shimada and colleagues believed this might explain the silkworm's
unique diet.
The researchers scanned the silkworm genome and discovered two
fructofuranosidase genes, although only one was actually expressed in
the worm. This gene (BmSuc1) was, as expected, concentrated in the
worm's gut, although surprisingly was also prevalent in the silk gland.
When they isolated the enzyme from silkworms, the researchers found it
could effectively digest sucrose.
Shimada and colleagues note that further work is needed to determine
if this special enzyme is the sole reason for silkworm's resistance to
mulberry toxins. It's possible that fructofuranosidases may turn up in
other insects that cannot eat mulberry leaves, indicating additional
factors are at work.
Journal reference:
Daimon et al. B-fructofuranosidase genes of the silkworm,
Bombyx mori: insights into enzymatic adaptation of B. mori to toxic
alkaloids in mulberry latex. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2008; 283 (22): 15271 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M709350200
Enhancing The Healthful Properties Of Silkwormshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060904100914.htm
ScienceDaily (Sep. 5, 2006) — The search for
a food that can be enriched with healthful conjugated linoleic acid
(CLA) has taken an unlikely twist -- straight toward the silkworm. An
international group of scientists is reporting success in producing
high-CLA silkworms.
Although silkworm soufflé may not sound like the most appetizing
dish, people in Asian countries treasure powdered silkworm as a
nutritional supplement and traditional treatment for diabetes.
CLA is an umbrella term for isomers -- chemical forms -- of linoleic
acid, an essential fatty acid. Studies suggest that CLA may have a
range of health benefits. They include stimulation of the immune
system, protection against cancer and heart disease, reducing body fat
and controlling diabetes. Those studies sparked efforts to produce
high-CLA poultry, eggs and pigs by feeding CLA to animals. However, it
has been difficult to get those animals to incorporate large amounts of
CLAs.
Yeong L. Ha and colleagues now report that silkworms fed CLA-coated
mulberry leaves at a certain stage in their growth cycle accumulate
large amounts of CLA. They began the research, scheduled for the July
12 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, after
other scientists found that houseflies accumulate CLA.
"It is of great significance to produce silkworms containing CLA
incorporated into the lipids of their bodies," Ha reported, adding that
CLA may enhance the healthful properties of silkworm powder.
Reference: "Production of Silkworms with Conjugated Linoleic Acid
(CLA) Incorporated Into their Lipids by Dietary CLA." Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry
--
Ad http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/natmag/AsthmaUpdate-Jun08.pdf
Naturally hypoallergenic - Ideal for allergy sufferers - silk is resistant to dust mite.
[ pubmed house dust mite silk] finds
scientific claims must be supported by robust and independently verifiable evidence.
can't find hard science to back this claim.
see:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/107/5/e80
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/163/5/1108
ARTICLE
http://www.beautysecretsblog.net/2008/02/16/are-silk-pillowcases-good-for-your-skin/
showed me this link
Clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14746626?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1>
Clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Ricci G, Patrizi A, Bendandi B, Menna G, Varotti E, Masi M.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy. ricci@med.unibo.it
BACKGROUND: In children with atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema is easily aggravated by contact with irritant factors (e.g. aggressive detergents, synthetic and woollen clothes, climatic factors). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a special silk fabric (MICROAIR DermaSilk) in the treatment of young children affected by AD with acute lesions at the time of examination. METHODS: Forty-six children (mean age 2 years) affected by AD in an acute phase were recruited: 31 received special silk clothes (group A) which they were instructed to wear for a week; the other 15 served as a control group (group B) and wore cotton clothing. Topical moisturizing creams or emulsions were the only topical treatment prescribed in both groups. The overall severity of the disease was evaluated using the SCORAD index. In addition, the local score of an area covered by the silk clothes was compared with the local score of an uncovered area in the same child. All patients were evaluated at baseline and 7 days after the initial examination. RESULTS: At the end of the study a significant decrease in AD severity was observed in the children of group A (mean SCORAD decrease from 43 to 30; P = 0.003). At the same time, the improvement in the mean local score of the covered area (from 32 to 18.6; P = 0.001) was significantly greater than that of the uncovered area (from 31 to 26; P = 0.112). CONCLUSIONS: The use of special silk clothes may be useful in the management of AD in children.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldsctech/166/7041807.htm
dustmites can't live in silk - debunked
ASSESSMENT
1. Upheld
The ASA considered that evidence from a study on specially treated silk clothing could not be extrapolated to a duvet that was filled with a different type of silk and had a cotton casing. We considered that the claim was misleading.
2. Upheld
We noted that no evidence was presented to show that house dust mites were unable to live in silk-filled duvets or that a cotton-cased duvet would produce the improvements described in the study. We considered that the claims were misleading.
3. Upheld
Because no evidence was presented to show that house dust mites were unable to live in silk filled duvets and because the duvet had a cotton casing, we considered that the claim was misleading.
4. Upheld
We noted no evidence was presented to support the claim that the duvet would adjust to the body's temperature or be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We considered that the claims were misleading.
5. Upheld
We welcomed the broadcasters action but nevertheless considered that the claims were misleading.
We concluded that the ads breached rules 5.1 (Misleading advertising) and 5.2.1 (Evidence) of the CAP (Broadcast) TV Advertising Standards Code.
ACTION
The ads must not be shown again in their present form and the products should not be advertised without adequate substantiation for the claims made.
American Institute of Conservators
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/straight_talk_chpt_4B.htm
Dust mites were first seen by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1694 after he had invented the microscope. There are two types of mites: the North American House Dust Mite
For those with known allergies to dust mites, it is recommended that you wash all bed sheets and (synthetic) blankets in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit), every other week. Avoid having wool blankets on the bed. Put washable covers on both pillows and mattresses. Home Trends sells a waterproof mattress pad that provides a special barrier for dust mites, and they also sell a new laundry additive called “de-mite.” For more information call 1 (800) 810-2340, or visit: www.ShopHomeTrends.com
Washing quilts frequently is not recommended for their sake, but it is possible to air them often. A white sheet that is brand new and has been washed and dried is ideal for draping over the quilt if the quilt is laid over a clothesline outside. Large white, terry-cloth towels are just right for “padding” the clothesline, under the quilt. Of course, one would never hang a wet quilt at all. Unless your quilt is exceedingly old and decrepit, you should be able to hang it outside in the manner described.
http://entomology.unl.edu/images/silkworm/silkworm.htm
Silkworm Life Stages
(Bombyx mori)
All images, unless otherwise noted, were created by staff from the University of Nebraska
Department of Entomology. They are freely available for use in publications and other media
as long as the "Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln" and the
photographer's name, if given, is credited. In no way should these images be copyrighted.
