The Tonic Effect of the Extract from Male Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Pupae on Rats

The Tonic Effect of the Extract from Male Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Pupae on Rats

More than three hundred million men in the world are suffering from erectile dysfunction. Korean ancient medical records say that the unmated male silkworm moth is effective in strengthening men's vitality, but no scientific examination has preyed its clinical efficacy. Currently, silkworm moths are not allowed for food-stuff. Thus, we selected silkworm of 14-days-after-metamorphosis, at which external morphology possesses that of pupae, but internal component is that of moths. To obtain the reliable source of unmated male silkworm moth, we used the sex-limited silkworm breed with larval marking. The body marker allows casual separation of sex during larval period, preventing mating right after emergence from cocoon. Using the extract prepared with the pupae of 14-days-after-metamorphosis, we investigated the tonic effect of the extract on the rat fed the extract for three weeks. The results showed that the testosterone levels in serum increased maximum by 19%, that of testicle increased maximum by 200%, and athletic endurance of the rats rose by 6%, suggesting positive tonic effect of the pupae prepared at the stage of 14 days after metamorphosis.