Defatted Tenebrio molitor Larva Fermentation Extract Modifies Steatosis, Inflammation and Intestinal Microflora in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Rats

Abstract

This study examined the effects of defatted mealworm fermentation extract (MWF) on alcoholic liver injury in rats. The rats were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli control (Con) or alcohol liquid diet (EtOH). The alcohol-fed rats were administered MWF (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) and silymarin (200 mg/kg/day) orally for eight weeks. MWF prevented alcohol-induced hepatocellular damage by decreasing their serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels significantly compared to the EtOH group. MWF effectively reduced the relative hepatic weight, lipid contents, and fat deposition, along with the down-regulation of transcriptional factors and genes involved in lipogenesis compared to the EtOH group. It also enhanced the antioxidant defense system by elevating the glutathione level and glutathione reductase activity. MWF attenuated the alcohol-induced inflammatory response by down-regulating hepatic inflammation-associated proteins expression, such as phosphorylated-inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in chronic alcohol-fed rats. Furthermore, sequencing analysis in the colonic microbiota showed that MWF tended to increase Lactobacillus johnsonii reduced by chronic alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that MWF can attenuate alcoholic liver injury by regulating the lipogenic and inflammatory pathway and antioxidant defense system, as well as by partially altering the microbial composition.

Effects of Edible Insect Tenebrio molitor Larva Fermentation Extract as a Substitute Protein on Hepatosteatogenesis and Proteomic Changes in Obese Mice Induced by High-Fat Diet

“…A recent study reported that defatted TMP (200 mg/kg body weight, oral supplementation) prevented alcoholic hepatic steatosis in rats by regulating de novo TG and cholesterol synthesis [ 12 ]. It had a higher amino acid content than the non-fermented extract.…”

“…Preparation of TMP was as described in a previous study [ 12 ]. Defatted and freeze-dried powder was fermented for 72 h using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (KCTC 17299, Korean Cell Line Bank, Seoul, Korea).…”

“…Sim et al [ 11 ] reported that fermented mealworm powder improved NAFLD in orotic acid-induced steatosis rats. A recent study reported that defatted mealworm fermentation extract (TMP) attenuated alcoholic hepatic steatosis in rats by regulating lipid synthesis, inflammation, and glutathione contents and changed the hepatic metabolites and gut microbiota [ 12 ]. TMP has a high percentage of free amino acids and essential amino acids compared to non-fermented mealworm extract.…”

Metabolomics Study of Serum from a Chronic Alcohol-Fed Rat Model Following Administration of Defatted Tenebrio molitor Larva Fermentation Extract

“…Recently, Cho et al [7] reported that yellow mealworm alcalase hydrolysates protected AML12 mouse liver cells against reactive oxygen species. Our previous study showed for the first time that defatted mealworm fermentation extract (MWF) might attenuate alcohol-induced liver injury by regulating the lipogenic and inflammatory pathways and the antioxidant defense system and by partially altering gut microbial composition [8].…”

“…Therefore, in this study, target metabolome studies on serum AAs, OAs, and FFAs were performed by profiling, star pattern recognition, and multivariate analyses to assess hepatoprotective effects of MWF against the development of alcoholic steatosis in the ALD rat model. We have integrated the results of this metabolic profiling and previous molecular mechanism analyses [8], providing an improved understanding for the protective effects of MWF on chronic alcohol-induced liver injury.…”