Glucose‐lowering effect of <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> powder on streptozotocin‐induced diabetes through the AKT/mTOR pathway

Abstract

This study was carried out to elucidate the antidiabetic effects of <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> powder using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of type I diabetes. Administration of the insect powder significantly rescued representative diabetes markers (i.e., insulin and C-peptide) in STZ-treated rats. Improved glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) results were also observed, indicating that <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> powder exerts antidiabetic effects. <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> powder administration rescued STZ-induced alterations in both islet morphology and insulin staining patterns. The extract increased antiapoptotic Bcl2 expression and decreased proapoptotic Bax and active caspase 3 expressions. In addition, the <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> powder supplementation enhanced AKT/mTOR pathway, a key marker of the state of anabolic metabolism, and its downstream effector, mTOR. Collectively, our results suggest that <i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i> contributes to the maintenance of pancreatic β-cell function and morphology against a diabetic state through the regulations against apoptosis and anabolic metabolism.