• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2013

This research was conducted to investigate the competition for survival between the two cricket species: Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) and Teleogryllus emma (TE). The test insects for this research were bred in the greenhouse of the Ecological Entomology Lab, College of Agriculture and Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Korea. The feeding environment was $28^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$, Long-Day condition (16L : 8D) and Relative Humidity: 50%~60%. The changes of the individual number in two species (TE, GB) were checked every day. This research had three experimental conditions which the ratios of individuals (TE : GB) were set at 1 : 2, 1 : 1 and 2 : 1. The survival rate of GB was net better than that of TE in the result of this study. However, due to the absence of the diapauses period in the egg stage, GB would dominate over TE in the field condition. The appropriate legal measure against GB is recommended.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2022

Insects have been proposed as new protein sources for human nutrition, and protein availability is affected by insect characteristics. Fermentation can be used to obtain a variety of insect-based ingredients and products with unique properties, but its effect on protein availability is unknown. Fermented cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) powder consists mainly of protein, and its oral administration has been reported to improve hair growth in androgenetic alopecia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hair-promoting activity of fermented cricket powder in an animal model using male C57BL/6 mice (25-30 g). The abdominal hair of the mouse (2x2.5 cm) was gently removed, and the groups fed as follows: Intact controls (no cricket powder); cricket powder only; and fermented cricket powder only. Food was applied daily for 11 weeks. Observational and physical examinations were performed and the results of the different groups compared. The application of fermented cricket powder significantly (p<0.01) promoted hair growth compared to the intact controls. The C57BL/6 results confirmed increased growth after seven weeks when the proportion of anagen follicles had increased by about 125% and 120% in the control and cricket powder groups, respectively. In conclusion, fermented cricket powder can be seen as a promising alternative alopecia treatment because it promotes hair growth, and, given the powder's composition, trace elements such as amino acids may have contributed to these effects.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.78-81
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine a feed withdrawal duration time of Gryllus bimaculatus (Gb), for removal of intestinal feces. Finally, this species of cricket has been temporarily approved for use as a human food source in Korea. To commercialize Gb as an edible insect, we attempted to prevent the proliferation of micro-organisms and improve taste of Gb by removing intestinal feces of live crickets. Our study showed that weak crickets were damaged in 2 days after feed withdrawal in farm. The microscope findings also revealed that feces of strong crickets' intestine almost disappeared at 1 day after feed withdrawal and instead, some of arms and legs of weak crickets were observed in the former's intestine. The results suggest that 1 day is deemed to be an adequate time for feed withdrawal, when it usually takes 1 day to deliver live crickets from the farm to a destination.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.480-485
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• 2019

The present study was conducted to compare antioxidant capacities of protein hydrolysates from four different edible insects (Protaetia brevitarsis larvae, Allomyrina dichotoma larvae, Gryllus bimaculatus imago, and Tenebrio molitor larvae) which have recently been registered as food varieties in Korea. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from each insect using enzymatic hydrolysis using alcalase, and were then separated into a fraction containing ${\leq}3kDa$. According to $RC_{50}$ values and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity results obtained from five different antioxidant analyses, the Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) hydrolysate showed relatively high levels of antioxidant capacity and, in particular, the GB hydrolysate showed considerably strong antioxidant activities in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The GB hydrolysate also showed the strongest inhibitory effect on peroxidation of linoleic acid, and its rate of inhibition at $100{\mu}g/mL$ on day 3 of treatment was 60.26%. These results suggest that protein hydrolysates from edible insects including GB represent potential sources of natural antioxidants.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.236-243
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• 2023

Platelets act a fundamental role in primary- and secondary-hemostasis, however, platelet activation may cause thrombosis simultaneously. Therefore, control of platelet aggregation is crucial in preventing thrombosis-mediated diseases. Recently, the development of insect materials is attracting attention. Among the highly nutritious functional food sources, insects such as two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus). Gryllus bimaculatus (G. bimaculatus) contains high protein and unsaturated fatty acids and has been registered as a food material September 2015 by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea. In this study, we examined whether G. bimaculatus extract (GBE) inhibits platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium mobilization, thromboxane A₂ production and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIb/β3) activation. We investigated whether GBE can regulate signaling molecules, such as 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor type I, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, cytosolic phospholipase A₂, mitogen-activated protein kinases p38, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt, glycogen synthase kinase-3α/β, and SYK. Taken together, GBE is a potential therapeutic drug candidate to prevent platelet-related thrombosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2022

In this study, the quality characteristics of rice cookies supplemented with different types of insect powder (Tenebrio molitor, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Gryllus bimaculatus) were assessed according to the quantity of insect powder used (0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g). No significant differences were observed in rice cookie densities or water content. The pH value and spread factor decreased with increasing insect powder content (p<0.05); however, a significant increase was observed in the loss rate (p<0.05). Crude ash, crude fat, and crude protein content significantly increased with higher concentrations of insect powder (p<0.05). Moreover, lightness and yellowness decreased, whereas redness increased with higher insect powder concentrations (p<0.05). Hardness significantly decreased, whereas the antioxidant capacities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals increased with higher insect powder concentrations (p<0.05). Finally, insect powder can prove a valuable resource in rice cookie production, considering its nutritional value, consumer preference, and antioxidant properties.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2020

In 2016, the two-spotted cricket was approved as a general food ingredient by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Additionally, the two-spotted crickets have high protein content (60%) and can be reared throughout the year even during the overwintering period. In this study, storage conditions were set in case cricket breeding was not possible due to problems such as breeding space and labor costs, and selection oviposition mats to determine high fecundity rates and low cannibalism rates for the eggs were investigated. The oviposition mat was mostly composed of soil (p < 0.05). Less than 62 crickets per 10 litters were found to be best suited for 1 day of spawning, based on the cannibalism rate of the eggs during the egg laying period. The results from the hatched eggs indicated that the hatching extended 12 to 14 days, and the best hatching rate was approximately 85% when stored at low temperatures(16℃) for 10 days. An efficient production proposed method that established the best oviposition mat and egg storage method for the cricket.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2019

This study was evaluated to increase the production efficiency of Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer, which are recently increasing attention as industrial insects in Korea. In this study, the hatching rate and larval period were investigated along with temperature and humidity, as well as the survival rate and ovipositional temperatures along with rearing density. The optimum relative humidity for hatching was highest at 90%, which shows the hatching rate of 90%. The highest hatching rate was 98.3% at $20^{\circ}C$. The hatching period was shortest at $35^{\circ}C$ incubation, which shows 7.1 days in average. The survival rate at 3,000-20,000 individuals in the breeding container was 34-18% after rearing for 35 days. In the effect test of feeding vegetables, the survival rate was 1.8 times and the biomass weight 2.5 times higher than that of normal individuals respectively. The number of laying eggs by temperature was highest at $25^{\circ}C$, which shows 1,710 eggs after reading for 30 days.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.473-479
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• 2019

Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) has recently been registered as a food variety in Korea. In the present study, we prepared protein hydrolysates from GB and evaluated their antioxidant capacity. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from dried GB using enzymatic hydrolysis using five different proteases, and protein hydrolysates showing high hydrolysis value (alcalase, flavourzyme, and neutrase) were separated further into fractions ${\leq}3kDa$ and then lyophilized. Based on $RC_{50}$ values of hydrolysates (${\leq}3kDa$) obtained from four different antioxidant analyses, the flavourzyme hydrolysates showed relatively high levels of antioxidant capacity among the three hydrolysates, and in particular, it showed considerably strong antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The flavourzyme hydrolysate also significantly inhibited peroxidation of linoleic acid. These results suggest that protein hydrolysates from GB represent potential sources of natural antioxidants. Our current studies are focused on identification of active peptides from the flavourzyme hydrolysate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.615-628
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• 2023

Purpose: Increasing levels of domestic fine dust (DFD) have emerged as a serious problem that threatens public health by causing chronic respiratory diseases and skin aging. The present study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Gryllus bimaculatus (the two-spotted cricket), which has recently attracted attention as an edible insect in South Korea, on DFD-induced aging and inflammation. Methods: To verify that DFD causes skin aging and investigate the anti-aging effect of an aqueous ethanolic-Gryllus bimaculatus extract (AE-GBE), human diploid fibroblasts (HDF) were treated with 100 ㎍/mL of European reference material (ERM)-CZ100 dust for 24 hrs in the presence or absence of 100 ㎍/ml AE-GBE. Aging and cellular toxicities were assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, DNA fragmentation, and β-galactosidase activity. The protein levels of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and collagen were measured by western blot, and the mRNA expressions of inflammation-related genes were assayed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: Treatment with ERM-CZ100 induced an aged phenotype in HDF cells, as evidenced by increased ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, but cotreatment with AE-GBE significantly reduced these inductions. The mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, induced by ERM-CZ100 were also reduced by AE-GBE cotreatment, which also reduced COX2 expression. Moreover, ERM-CZ100-induced MMP-1 expression and reduced collagen type I expression were recovered by AE-GBE treatment. Conclusion: These results suggest that AE-GBE is a potential treatment for domestic fine dust-induced skin inflammation and inflammaging.