EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SERICIN PROTEIN FROM Bombyx mori

Abstract

Silk sericin is a water-soluble macromolecular protein obtained from the raw cocoons of silkworm, Bombyx mori.It comprises of about 25% of the total cocoon shell weight and is categorized as a waste by-product in textile and silk industries after the extraction of silk fibers.This study emphasizes on the extraction of sericin from B. mori by a conventional salt alkaline method and characterized their physico-chemical properties, thermal stability, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activities.The extraction yield of the sericin protein from the cocoon was found to be 24 %.FTIR spectrum shows the presence of functional groups corresponding to the amino acids of sericin depicting its purity.TGA analysis demonstrates the degradation of sericin at 210°C with a weight loss of 57.69%.Sericin exhibited effective antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.DPPH assay revealed the antioxidant property of the sericin.