Effect of Insect Tea on Acute Gastric Injury

Our goal of this chapter was to determine the protective effects of insect tea against hydrochloric acid/ethanol induced gastric ulcers in mice. Using a commercial kit for serum determination and Western blot for gastric tissue determination, insect tea reduced hydrochloric acid/ethanol induced gastric secretion and increased gastric pH. Insect tea increased vasoactive intestinal peptide and somatostatin levels and decreased serum motilin, substance P, and endothelin levels. Insect tea increased gastric superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide levels and decreased malondialdehyde levels in the gastric ulcer model mice. Gastric expression of NF-kB, EGF, EGFR, nNOS, eNOS, Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, and CAT were increased in insect tea treated mice compared to untreated model mice. NF-kB and iNOS decreased in mice treated with insect tea compared with untreated model mice. Based on the present findings, insect tea appears to protect ICR mice from hydrochloric acid/ethanol induced gastric ulcers.