# Bombyx mori Pupae as a Novel Ingredient from an Underutilized Sericulture Product: A Dual Approach Based on Sustainable Extractions and Sample Pretreatment Strategies

## TL;DR

This study explores using Bombyx mori pupae, a silk industry byproduct, to extract valuable lipids through sustainable methods for food and cosmetic applications.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel sustainable extraction method using supercritical fluid extraction with natural solvents and pretreatment strategies.

## Key findings

- SFE-NHSolv with B+FD pretreatment achieved a 55.98% yield, higher than traditional Soxhlet extraction.
- Extracts contained linolenic, oleic, and palmitic acids, along with carotenoids like lutein and β-carotene.
- SFE-NHSolv was confirmed as a more eco-efficient and sustainable extraction process compared to Soxhlet.

## Abstract

Bombyx mori (B. mori) pupae, a major byproduct of the silk industry,
can be upcycled
as a source of bioactive lipids for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic
applications. This study aimed to sustainably recover the lipophilic
fraction fromB. mori using supercritical
fluid extraction (SFE) assisted by natural hydrophobic solvents (SFE-NHSolv)
as an alternative to Soxhlet (SOX) extraction with hexane while also
evaluating the impact of two different pretreatment methods, freeze-drying
(FD) and blanching (B), followed by FD (B+FD). The process yield,
lipid and carotenoid profiles, bioactivities (antioxidant and antibacterial),
and environmental performance of SOX and SFE-NHSolv were assessed.
Among the processes, SFE-NHSolv with B+FD achieved the highest yield
(55.98%) compared with Soxhlet (38.3%). The fatty acid profile revealed
that the lipid fraction is mainly composed of linolenic, oleic, and
palmitic acids. Five carotenoids were tentatively identified in SOX
extracts including lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene. Extracts
exhibited higher antioxidant capacity by ABTS (3.25–15.44 μmol
TE g–1) than by DPPH (2.59–7.23 μmol
TE g–1), with SFE-NHSolv B+FD showing the highest
value. No antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus andEscherichia
coli. The sustainability assessment confirmed SFE-NHSolv
as a cleaner and more eco-efficient process than SOX, capable of producing
ready-to-use extracts. In summary, this study contributes to the advancement
of sustainable extraction technologies. It promotes the sustainable
use of silk industry byproducts, offering eco-friendly solutions for
developing high-value ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and
cosmetic sectors.