Solvent Fractionation and LC-MS Profiling, Antioxidant Properties, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Bombyx batryticatus

Bombyx batryticatusis the dried body of silkworm (Bombyx moriLinnaeus) larvae infected withBeauveria bassiana. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating convulsions, epilepsy, and hyperglycemia. In this study,Bombyx batryticatusand its extract were prepared. The total reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities, as well as the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity ofBombyx batryticatusextract were superior to those of normal silkworm larvae extract. Among them, the IC50value ofBombyx batryticatusextract for α-glucosidase was 5.76 mg/mL, while that of normal silkworm larvae extract was 7.0 mg/mL. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was employed to compare the material composition of normal silkworm larvae andBombyx batryticatus. The results revealed 101 metabolic differences between the two groups, including a significant increase in fatty acids and their derivatives in theBombyx batryticatusextract. Further separation and purification of theBombyx batryticatusextract were performed using solvents of varying polarity. The chloroform fraction exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with an IC50value of 0.217 mg/mL. LC-MS further identified compounds in the chloroform fraction, suggesting that those alkaloids, fatty acids, and their derivatives may be responsible for its strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This study elucidates the material basis underlying the pharmacological effects ofBombyx batryticatus, particularly its hypoglycemic components, thereby providing critical experimental support for its future development and application in medicine.