Research Progress in Bioactive Ingredients and Pharmacological Functions of Silkworm Pupa
Silkworm pupa is a medicinal and edible insect resource abundant in many bioactive constituents such as unsaturated fatty acids, rare amino acids, active peptides, chitins, etc. It has such functions as protecting liver, improving immunity, anti- tumor, decreasing blood sugar, blood fat and blood pressure, promoting wound healing and so on. This article summarizes extraction methods and pharmaceutical functions of bioactive compounds from silkworm pupa. Future trends in its research and development are also proposed.