What are the effects and functions of silkworm

I don’t know if you have heard of the silkworm pupae in your life. This is a kind of silkworm that died from infection with Beauveria bassiana. The whole body of this silkworm is very dry, but the surface is intact. After drying, it can be used as medicine. Many traditional Chinese medicines contain this substance, and it can also treat many diseases. So what are the effects and functions of the silkworm pupae?

Oral administration of 2g/kg of 10% decoction to mice had a significant antagonistic effect on convulsions caused by strychnine nitrate. A mixture composed of commercially available white silkworm, cicada shell, etc. (i.e., the decoction of Wuhu Zhuifeng Powder) can reduce the number of deaths in mice caused by convulsions caused by strychnine, pentylenetetrazol, cocaine, nicotine, etc. Artificial white silkworm decoction also has the effect of counteracting strychnine-induced convulsions in mice.

Hypnotic effect

The alcohol-water extract has a hypnotic effect on mice and rabbits. Mice take 0.5g/20g orally and 0.25g/20g is injected subcutaneously, which is approximately equal to the hypnotic effect of 50mg/kg phenobarbital injected subcutaneously.

Pharmacological Action

The effect of the pupae of Bombyx batryticatus against convulsions in mice caused by strychnine nitrate is obvious, and the result is consistent with that of the white silkworm. In terms of reducing mortality, there was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group, but the results for pupae and white silkworm were consistent. In both results, the pupae were slightly better than the white silkworm. In addition, the pupae can inhibit mouse sarcoma-180 (needs further confirmation), and although they have inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc., the effect is not obvious. Since pupae are easy to obtain, they can be used instead of white silkworm pupae.

Pharmacological studies

The toxicity of the original silkworm moth is very low. It promotes the weight gain of immature male mice and can significantly increase the weight of the prostate, seminal vesicle and preputial gland of castrated mice and rats, indicating that it has an androgen-like effect.

The above is an introduction to the effects and functions of silkworm pupa. The side effects of this drug are relatively small, and it also has a certain hypnotic effect. It is more suitable for people with weak constitutions. It can help us improve the quality of sleep and can also relieve sudden convulsion symptoms in the body.