Research and utilization of medicinal insects in China

Abstract

The research and utilization of medicinal insects in China is introduced briefly in this paper. Medicinal insects have been used to treat human diseases from ancient times. There are approximately 300 medicinal insects species distributed in 70 genera, 63 families and 14 orders at present. An estimated 1700 traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions include medicinal insects or insect-derived crude drugs. Many insect-derived compounds have been studied and show efficient therapeutic functions. Techniques for mass rearing and cultivation of medicinal insects have been developed in order to have sufficient quantities of medicinal insects. Suggestions are made towards the uses of medicinal insects and it is proposed that insects will be a main resource for the future discovery of new drugs.

Antitumor effects and chemical compositions of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker ethanol extract

“…Recently it has been used as tonic and spice for its special flavor and healthy effects in Southeast Asia, such as China, Thailand, India and Malaysia (Zhang et al, 2008;Feng et al, 2009). In folk medical practices, it could promote blood circulation by removing blood stasis (Ahn et al, 2000;Qian and Wang, 2009;Yang et al, 2011) and enhance immune response .…”

Insect natural products and processes: New treatments for human disease

“…The use of insects in folk medicine has been particularly common in China and in the State of Bahia in Brazil (Costa-Neto, 2002;Feng et al, 2009) but is also present in many other counties including Mexico, India, Africa and South Korea (Pemberton, 1999;Costa-Neto, 2005a,b;Dossey, 2010). Insects have been used in Chinese medicine for over 3000 years and for at least 1000 years in South America.…”

“…Whole body extracts of many bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, cockroaches, beetles etc. as anticancer and anti-bacterial agents "We are in danger of returning to a pre-antibiotic era" The Royal Society, 2008 (royalsociety.org/Innovative-mechanisms-fortackling-antibacterial-resistance) Insect body extracts have been used widely in folk medicine, and in Chinese traditional medicine, for treating throat and ear infections, tuberculosis, influenza, cancer and many other diseases and ailments (Pemberton, 1999;Costa-Neto, 2002, 2005aFeng et al, 2009). In China, insects from 77 species, 14 families and 8 orders have been traditionally used to treat tumours and cancer (Jiang, 1990).…”

“…Thus, insects have been relatively neglected as sources of modern drugs although they have provided valuable natural products, including honey (beeswax, propolis, pollen and Royal Jelly) and silk, for at least 4e7000 years (Crane, 1983), and have featured in folklore medicine for thousands of years too (Feng et al, 2009). …”

“…Insects have been used in Chinese medicine for over 3000 years and for at least 1000 years in South America. An estimated 300 insect species are used to produce 1700 traditional Chinese medicines while 42 species have been used in Bahian Folk Medicine (Costa-Neto, 2002;Feng et al, 2009). Often the medicines are extracted from the stings of bees and wasps, or by grinding up the toasted bodies of insects or from their secretions, and then teas made for drinking or ointments for external use (Dossey, 2010).…”