Anti-oxidation enhancement, inflammation alleviation, and microbial composition optimization of using tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin peptides for hyperglycaemia remission

PLoS One. 2025 Jan 23;20(1):e0317891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317891. eCollection 2025.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the positive effects on anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and microbial composition optimization of diabetic mice using tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin peptides (TSFP), providing the theoretical foundation for making the use of silk resources of A. pernyi and incorporating as a supplement into the hypoglycemic foods.

Method: The animal model of diabetes was established successfully. Alloxan-induced diabetic mice were orally administered using TSFP, and the hypoglycaemic effects in vivo were systematically investigated.

Results: The results indicated that TSFP could significantly reduce the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and suppress the mRNA expression of glycometabolism genes of diabetic mice. In addition, the TSFP could ameliorate the lipid dysbolism and contribute to a higher anti-oxidation capacity. Moreover, TSFP could alleviate pathological damages and hinder inflammatory processes of diabetic mice. Besides, the supplementation of TSFP presented a greater ability to shape and optimize the gut microbial composition by enriching the profitable bacteria and inhibiting the pathogenic microorganisms. Correlation analysis also revealed that the abundances of functional bacteria in the TSFP-treated groups exhibited better correlations with serum parameters, which would be of positive significance for blood glucose regulation and inflammation remission.

Conclusions: These results collectively corroborated the feasibility and superiority of using TSFP for hyperglycaemia remission via anti-oxidation enhancement, inflammation alleviation, and microbial composition optimization, contributing to a safely feasible and biologically efficient strategy for improving anti-diabetic effects.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Blood Glucose*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental* / drug therapy
  • Fibroins* / chemistry
  • Fibroins* / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects
  • Hyperglycemia* / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Inflammation* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Peptides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Fibroins
  • Blood Glucose
  • Antioxidants
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Peptides
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents