Effect of medicinal syrup made from silkworm cocoon on mixed anxiety-depression disorder: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial

 Silkworm cocoon produced by silkworms with the scientific name of Bombyx mori L. is a well-known medicinal agent mainly composed of proteins. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of syrup made from this natural agent on mild to moderate depression.

 The study was conducted based on a triple-blind randomized clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder were randomized to receive either intervention (silk syrup + sertraline) or control (placebo syrup + sertraline) for 12 weeks. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Beck Depression and Anxiety inventories at weeks 0, 6, and 12.

 Out of the subjects, 54 patients completed the trial in two groups of intervention (n=30) and control (n=24) and entered the final analysis. According to the results of this study, the mean of anxiety and depression scores in weeks 6 and week 12 was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.001).

 Silk syrup can be beneficial for the management of anxiety and depression in mild to moderate MADD; therefore, it is suggested as an adjuvant treatment to increase the efficacy of conventional medications adopted for the treatment of MADD patients.