Research Journal of Chemical Sciences

6

Authors: Khyade Vitthalrao B.1 and Kulkarni Jyoti A.2

The tablets of digoxin (Lanoxin) were to dissolved in water to prepare ten part per million (ten mg per litre) solution. The mulberry leaves were soaked in the stock solution of digoxin for half an hour. The Digoxin treated leaves were drained and fed to the fifth instar larvae of multivoltine cross breed (PM x CSR₂) for the second, third, fourth and fifth day (from 48 to 120 hours after the forth moult ). The Larvae fed with untreated and water treated mulberry leaves were also maintained. Biochemical estimation of proteins (Soluble and total) was carried out at 120 hours after the fourth moult. Feeding the larvae with digoxin treated mulberry leaves were found variously reflected into improvement in protein profile of whole body, haemolymph and silk glands. Pattern of increase in soluble proteins and total proteins in whole body and haemolymph was found similar (36.584; 47.87; and 87.963, 91.428 percent respectively). Increased level of tissue proteins of silk glands was found 54.776 (soluble) and 43.373 (Total) percent. Improvement of protein profiles in the larvae fed with digoxin treated mulberry leaves may be explained away as due accelerated rate of digestion, absorption in the alimentary canal. Digoxin titre in the larval body may influence the development of tissue especially the silk glands that causes to accelerate the protein accumulation. Digoxins, the glycoside, exert acceleratory influence, especially on the midgut- glucosidase activity. Digitoxose, the glycone moiety of digoxin deserve cardiotonic activity. It may be improving cardiac physiology in silk worm. Feasible method for using digoxin for rearing larvae of silk worm should be established.