Protective Effect of Thai Indigenous Mulberry Silkworm Pupa Extracts on Metabolic and Hepatorenal Alterations in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus has now become a global health challenge, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems, with bioactive natural products gaining increasing attention as alternatives to synthetic drugs. Silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori), traditionally consumed in Asia, are rich in proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, and functional compounds to glycemic and metabolic regulation. This study investigated the effects of Thai silkworm pupae extracts (Samrong and Nangnoi varieties) on hematological indices, lipid metabolism, hepatic and renal function, and histopathological features in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to normal control, diabetic control, positive control (glibenclamide, 5 mg/kg), or experimental groups receiving silkworm pupae extracts (Samrong and Nangnoi varieties) (500 mg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Silkworm pupae extracts did not induce hematological or morphological abnormalities, indicating good tolerability. Both varieties significantly ameliorated diabetes-associated dyslipidemia by lowering triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, while the Samrong extract further improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Elevated serum markers of hepatic (AST: Aspartate Transaminase, ALT: Alanine Transaminase, ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase) and renal (BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine) dysfunction in the diabetic control were significantly reduced by treatment, particularly with the Samrong extract, whose effects were comparable to glibenclamide. Histopathological analysis corroborated these biochemical findings, revealing preserved hepatic and renal architecture without evidence of toxicity. Silkworm pupae extracts, especially the Samrong variety, exhibited lipid-modulating, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective properties in diabetic rats, supporting their potential as safe and effective nutraceuticals for preventing diabetes-associated organ complications. However, further mechanistic and clinical investigations are warranted to confirm their nutraceutical utility.