DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i02.034

Pages: 476-482

Sericin is a natural, gum-like, protein synthesized from silkworms, which has antioxidative efficiency, accelerates wound healing, and stimulates proliferation in vitro. Thiol disulphide redox homeostasis plays important roles in the antioxidant defense, detoxification, acceleration of tissue proliferation and regeneration, and has cancer-preventive features. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of intrapleural sericin administration on plasma native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide levels in rats. Twelve-week-old, male, adult Wistar albino rats were used in the present study (n=12). The rats were divided into two equal groups as the sericin group and the control group. After intramuscular anesthetic agent administration, the rats were intubated, mechanically ventilated and a left thoracotomy was performed. Subsequently, 30 mg sericin powder was administered in the thoraxes of the sericin group; the remaining rats were allocated as sham thoracotomy. The rats were sacrificed eight days later; the preferred method was cardiac puncture. The plasma of rat blood was separated from cells, and a biochemical examination for the parameters of native thiol, total thiol, and disulphide was performed. The rate of native thiol level was significantly higher in the sericin group (sericin: 110.06 µmol/L; control: 75.70 µmol/L; p < 0.05). Similarly, total thiol level was higher in the sericin group, but this was within the limit, according to the independent t-test (p = 0.056).