• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.258-268
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate preventive effects of extracts of cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, against the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD)-induced toxicity in 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats. Thirty five male rats were divided into 5 groups: one normal control group treated with vehicle and saline (G1); one TCDD-treated group by single intraperitoneal injection (G2); three preventive groups (G3, G4, and G5). The last three groups, G3, G4, and G5, were fed on cricket extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively) for 2 weeks before TCDD treatment. Various harmful effects were shown by TCDD treatment. The body weights of rats were lost by TCDD. In addition, severe hypertrophy and color change, and the weights gaining were found in the livers of TCDD-treated rats. It was observed that the cytoplasmic vacuolizations and inflammatory cell infiltration around portal triad in the liver. TCDD also elevated the serum activity levels of alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST). However, those losses were compensated by cricket extracts treatment at the level of 200 mg/kg. These findings indicate that cricket extracts may have protective effects against TCDD-induced toxicities in rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.175-178
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• 2004

The cricket has been used in East Asia as crude drugs for treating fever and hypertension, and is presently reared as a pharmaceutical insect in China and a food for animals. For the purpose of evaluating protective extracts against alcohol-induced toxicity, the extracts of the cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) were examined in animal models acutely administered alcohol by the cricket in ICR-mice. Water and methanol extracts from the cricket, were found to cause a significant decrease (37%) in the blood ethanol concentration as well as enhancement of liver mitochondrial alcohol dehydogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydogenase (ALDH) activitieson on a single intraperitoneal administration in mice. Futhermore methanol extract was demonstrated to exhibit more potent enhancing activity on ethanol metabolism than water extract. These results suggest that water/alcohol extract of G. bimaculatus may be used as a food for reducing the toxicity of alcohol.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.684-687
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• 2002

Water and methanol extracts of cricket were examined for their liver protective effects against $CCl_4-intoxication$ in ICR-mice. Serum transaminases (S-GOT and S-GPT), lactate dehydrogense (LDH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and TBARS (Thiobarbiturate-reactive substances) content were measured for evaluation of liver protective effects. The activities of GOT, GPT, LDH and hepatic content of lipid peroxide after $CCl_4-treatment$ were higher than normal control but those levels decreased th 74, 50, 101 and 40%, respectively, by the treatment of cricket methanol extract. The anti-fatigue effects of water and methanol extracts investigated by an acute weight-loaded forced swimming test showed significantly prolonged swimming time in the mice administered cricket extracts. These results suggest us that water/alcohol extract of G. bimaculatus may be used as a liver protective food.