Extracts from the edible insects Gryllus bimaculatus and Oxya chinensis sinuosa as an effective postnatal therapy for improving autistic behavior through blood-brain barrier control and gut microbiota

Abstract

In the food resource crisis caused by global warming, interest in edible insects with high medicinal value in various diseases as well as nutritional value is increasing. This study evaluated the effects of Gryllus bimaculatus (Crickets) (Gb) and Oxya chinensis sinuosa (Grasshoppers) (Ocs) extracts in a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). VPA-exposed mice exhibited autistic behavior. Gb and Ocs extracts protected neurons in the brain; increased levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase; and recovered the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 in the autistic mice. Moreover, both extracts prevented blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and cerebral edema as well as improved VPA-mediated gut dysbiosis via recovery of the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and metabolic activity. Collectively, these new findings suggest a possible therapeutic role of insect extracts in ASD-induced BBB damage and gut microbiome composition alteration.