Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (P. brevitarsis) larvae have traditionally been used in alternative medicine. Although various health benefits have been reported, the immunomodulatory effects of P. brevitarsis extract have so far been unknown. In this study, the immune-enhancing activities of P. brevitarsis larvae hot-water extract (PLW) were investigated using the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. The PLW did not exert cytotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 1 to 200 μg/mL in RAW 264.7 cells. The treatment of PLW increased the production of nitric oxide and cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] at doses of 100, 200 μg/mL in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, treatment with PLW (100, 200 μg/mL) led to the increase of surface molecules (cluster of differentiation; CD80/86 and major histocompatibility complex; MHC-class Ⅰ/Ⅱ) expression in RAW 264.7 cells. These immunomodulatory effects of PLW were mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38 MAPK) phosphorylation and nuclear factor (NF)-κB translocation. In conclusion, these findings provide experimental evidence that PLW can be used as an immunity-enhancing nutraceutical ingredient.

In this study, the immunoactive effect of Gryllus bimaculatus water extract (GBWE) on macrophages was investigated under various extraction temperature conditions. The study found that GBWE did not induce cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells within the tested concentration range. Treatment with GBWE under different extraction conditions resulted in an increase in cytokine secretion and nitric oxide production in the treated cells. Furthermore, the treatment with GBWE increased the expression of surface molecules, and GBWE-treated cells showed phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappa B translocation. The experimental results suggest that GBWE exhibits immune-enhancing effects in macrophages. Notably, these effects were observed even in GBWE extracted at low temperatures (5℃ and 25℃) without exposure to high temperatures (75℃) typically used for extraction. These findings suggest that GBWE has the potential to be used as an alternative protein source and functional food material with immunostimulatory properties.

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The edible insect larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (P. brevitarsis) have been proposed as an alternative source of protein in the future. To examine their potential as a chemotherapy supplement, we investigated whether hot-water extract of P. brevitarsis (PLW) could protect macrophage RAW264.7 cells from cisplatin-induced cell death. PLW concentrations within the range 1∼1,000 μg/mL did not exert cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells. Notably, pre-treatment with PLW (50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) alleviated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the early-and late-apoptosis cell population. Furthermore, the pretreatment with PLW reduced cisplatin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These PLW-induced cytoprotective actions were mediated by the inhibition of caspase-3 and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) activation. In conclusion, PLW alleviated cisplatin-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting ROS production and caspase-3/Bax activation. These results indicate that PLW can be used as a nutritional supplement during cisplatin chemotherapy. Nevertheless, further research is needed to establish the full range of its applications in chemotherapy.

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