The Nutritional Goldmine Waste, The Spent Pupae of Mulberry, Eri and Oak Tasar Silkworms for Combating Malnutrition

Abstract

With a view to provide the utility of edible silkworm pupae waste in a better way, comparative nutritional profiling of both unspent and spent pupa of three different species of silkworm, Bombyx mori, Samia cynthia ricini and Antheraea proylei were evaluated. The nutritional profiling of A. proylei pupa, a native non-mulberry silkworm species of Manipur is reported for the first time. The protein content of spent pupae was highest (41%) in the non-mulberry species and S. c. ricinifollowed by A. proylei (40%) and B. mori (31%). Both spent and unspent silkworm pupae yielded good sources of protein. The crude fat content of unspent and spent pupae ranged from 12-17%. The silkworm also has considerable macro-nutrient content. Hence, utilization of spent pupa waste towards product development with value addition are the need of the hour.