Inhibitory Effect of Silkworm‐Extract(SE) on Monoamine Oxidase Activity in Vitro and in Vivo

In vitro.MAO-A activity was inhibited 16-25%, and MAO-B activity was inhibited 20-50% by SE treatment (12.5, 25 and 50 μg), In vivo.male C57BL/6 mice Received intraperitoneal injection of SE (20 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. The results showed that MAO-A activity of pre-SE-treatment mice brain was inhibited in whole brain, cerebral cortex, substantia nigra. MAO-B activity of pre-SE-treatment mice brain was inhibited in substantia nigra and cerebellum than saline-treated control group. These results suggest that SE inhibits MAO activity in vivo.which would be expected to results in anti-depressive and neuroprotective effects.