Abstract

                                The present study aimed to assess the effect of honey obtained fromdifferent bee species and protein sources on the metabolic changes inmulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The results of experiment showed thatoral administration of honey and protein sources to silkworm larvae duringlate-age instars daily once significantly changed metabolic processes.Among the various treatments and concentrations tested, 5 per cent Trigonairidipennis honey significantly increased the carbohydrate in haemolymph(16.71 mg/mL) and fat body (12.38 mg/g) over all other treatments. Thelipid content in haemolymph (23.03 mg/mL) and fat body (45.38 mg/g)of silkworm were also found to be superior in the larval batch treated with5 per cent T. iridipennis. Apart from this, the same treatment was showedstatistical superiority in increasing the activity of enzymes viz., aspartateaminotransferase (269.78 μg/mL) and alanine aminotransferase (563.25μg/mL), which play an important role in protein metabolism.

Key words : Aminotransferase; Carbohydrate; Haemolymph; Fat body; Metabolism; Honey