Ulomoides dermestoides Coleopteran action on Thermoplastic Starch/Poly(lactic acid) films biodegradation: a novel, challenging and sustainable approach for a fast mineralization process.

Ulomoides dermestoides (UL) are macroinvertebrates insects belonging to Tenebrionidae Coleopteran family. They were used to hasten, in five days, the biodegradation-mineralization of thermoplastic starch (TPS)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films, otherwise biodegradable under composting conditions. After the contact of TPS-PLA film with UL for five days, TPS was metabolized and PLA was hydrolysed, as evidenced by decreasing of hydroxyl and carbonyl group peaks intensity by FTIR spectra, increasing of 13% of PLA crystallinity by DSC thermograms, reduction of PLA and TPS thermal stability by TGA analysis; faecal residues evidenced two glass transition temperature Tg, at 33 °C and 57 °C, associated with depolymerized TPS and PLA, respectively. SEM micrographs highlighted consumption of TPS-PLA surface, while GPC analysis showed a decrease in PLA concentration by 20% during contact by UL. Mineralization tests evidenced UL boosted effect on TPS biodigestion-biodegradation (80%) and PLA biodisintegration (50%), envisaging a challenging perspective for end-life management of bioplastics in environmental conditions.

Volatilome and Essential Oil of Ulomoides dermestoides: A Broad-Spectrum Medical Insect.

Ulomoides dermestoides are used as a broad-spectrum medical insect in the alternative treatment of various diseases. Preliminary volatilome studies carried out to date have shown, as the main components, methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 1-tridecene, 1-pentadecene, and limonene. This work focused on the production of metabolites and their metabolic variations in U. dermestoides under stress conditions to provide additional valuable information to help better understand the broad-spectrum medical uses. To this end, VOCs were characterized by HS-SPME with PEG and CAR/PDMS fibers, and the first reported insect essential oils were obtained. In HS-SMPE, we found 17 terpenes, six quinones, five alkenes, and four aromatic compounds; in the essential oils, 53 terpenes, 54 carboxylic acids and derivatives, three alkynes, 12 alkenes (1-Pentadecene, EOT1: 77.6% and EOT2: 57.9%), 28 alkanes, nine alkyl disulfides, three aromatic compounds, 19 alcohols, three quinones, and 12 aldehydes were identified. Between both study approaches, a total of 171 secondary metabolites were identified with no previous report for U. dermestoides. A considerable number of the identified metabolites showed previous studies of the activity of pharmacological interest. Therefore, considering the wide variety of activities reported for these metabolites, this work allows a broader vision of the therapeutic potential of U. dermestoides in traditional medicine.

Novel Extract from Beetle Ulomoides dermestoides: A Study of Composition and Antioxidant Activity.

A biologically active extract from the darkling beetle Ulomoides dermestoides was obtained using the electro-pulse plasma dynamic extraction method. The beetle water extract contained a complex of antioxidant substances such as antioxidant enzymes and nonprotein antioxidants, as well as a complex of heat shock antistress proteins. This determines the rather high antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract of the beetle, i.e., 1 mg of dry matter/mL of the extract has an equivalent antioxidant activity to 0.2 mM Trolox (a water-soluble analog of vitamin E). It was shown that the beetle extract can lead to a 25-30% increase in the average lifespan of nematode Caenorhabditiselegans, under normal conditions, and a 12-17% increase under conditions of oxidative stress (with paraquat), and significantly inhibits the fructosylation reaction of serum albumin. Therefore, the beetle aqueous extract shows promise as a biologically active complex exhibiting antioxidant activity.

Beetle (Ulomoides dermestoides) fat improves diabetes: effect on liver and pancreatic architecture and on PPARgamma expression

Ulomoides dermestoides is a beetle traditionally consumed to treat diabetes. In this study, we performed a composition analysis of U. dermestoides to obtain the principal fractions, which were used to assess the effect on glycemia, liver and pancreatic architecture, and PPARγ and GLUT4 expression. Normal mice and alloxan-induced diabetic mice were administered fractions of chitin, protein or fat, and the acute hypoglycemic effect was evaluated. A subacute study involving daily administration of these fractions to diabetic mice was also performed over 30 days, after which the liver and pancreas were processed by conventional histological techniques and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate morphological changes. The most active fraction, the fat fraction, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and PPARγ and GLUT4 mRNA expressions were determined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The protein and fat fractions exhibited hypoglycemic effects in the acute as well as in the 30-day study. Only the fat fraction led to elevated insulin levels and reduced glycemia, as well as lower intake of water and food. In the liver, we observed recovery of close hepatic cords in the central lobule vein following treatment with the fat fraction, while in the pancreas there was an increased density and percentage of islets and number of cells per islet, suggesting cellular regeneration. The GC-MS analysis of fat revealed three fatty acids as the major components. Finally, increased expression of PPARγ and GLUT4 was observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, indicating an antidiabetic effect.

Asociación de Ulomoides Dermestoides "cucarrón del maní" como causa de purpura palpable / Association of Ulomoides Dermestoides "beetle-peanut" as cause of palpable purpura

La coleoterapia (consumo de larvas de Ulomoides Dermestoides), ha sido utilizado en medicina alternativa para tratar diferentes patologías crónicas como artritis, diabetes o cáncer. Su uso ha incrementado en Suramérica en los últimos años ganando aceptación. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 64 años con purpura palpable en extremidades y fiebre que aparece durante el consumo de las larvas. Fue diagnosticado una vasculitis de hipersensibilidad la cual resolvió después de suspender el consumo de las larvas e iniciar corticosteroides. Esta es la primera asociación entre coleoterapia y purpura palpable que se ha descrito en la literatura destacando el potencial riesgo de eventos adversos generados por tratamientos de medicina alternativa

Ingestion of Ulomoides Dermestoides "beetle-peanut" has been used in alternative medicine to treat different chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes or cancer. Its use has increased in South America in recent years with acceptance. We present the case of a 64-year-old woman with palpable purpura in limbs and fever that appears during ingestion of the beetles. A hypersensitivity vasculitis was diagnosed which resolved after suspending ingestion of the beetles and initiating corticosteroids. The present case shows the potential risk of adverse events generated by alternative medicine treatments. This is the first association between Ingestion of Ulomoides dermestoides "beetle-peanut" and palpable purpura which has been described in the literature

CARACTERIZACIÓN BIOQUÍMICA DE EXTRACTOS ACUOSOS DE Ulomoides dermestoides (COLEOPTERA, TENEBRIONIDAE): EXPLORACIÓN DE LA INHIBICIÓN DUAL DE LA LIPOXIGENASA (15-LOX) Y CICLOOXIGENASAS (COX-1 Y COX-2) / BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF Ulomoides dermestoides (COLEOPTERA, TENEBRIONIDAE) AQUEOUS EXTRACTS: EXPLORATION OF DUAL INHIBITION OF LIPOXYGENASE (15-LOX) AND CYCLOOXYGENASE (COX-1 AND COX-2)

Ulomoides dermestoides es usado en medicina tradicional oriental para aliviar enfermedades inflamatorias y como afrodisíaco. En Colombia, comunidades campesinas lo consumen para el tratamiento del asma. El propósito de este estudio fue obtener extractos acuosos del cuerpo entero de U. dermestoides y explorar su potencial para inhibir enzimas involucradas en la biosíntesis de reguladores de la inflamación, la 15-lipoxigenasa (15-LOX) y las ciclooxigenasas COX-1 y COX-2 (COXs). Los extractos se obtuvieron con tampón salino fosfato 0,01M (PBS) y bicarbonato de amonio 0,1M (NH4HCO3), en presencia de un detergente (Tween-20 o Dodecilsulfato sódico, SDS). Posteriormente se determinó el contenido de proteínas totales solubles, el perfil electroforético y las actividades enzimáticas a 19 hidrolasas. Las inhibiciones 15-LOX y COXs se midieron por método colorimétrico y por inmunoensayo enzimático, respectivamente. El rendimiento más alto de proteínas se obtuvo con el tampón PBS/SDS (1,603 %p/p). Este extracto mostró 13 bandas electroforéticas mayoritarias, con tamaños entre 8,8 y 151,2 kDa; también, se demostraron actividades enzimáticafosfosfohidrolasas, peptidasas, esterasas, B-glucoronidasa, a-glucosidasa, N-acetil-B-glucosaminidasa y a-manosidasa. Todos los extractos mostraron actividad inhibitoria dual 15-LOX y COXs. Las inhibiciones 15-LOX y COX-1 más altas se obtuvieron con el extracto obtenido con PBS/SDS (15-LOX: 62,8±2,0%; COX-1: 88,5±3,9%). Adicionalmente, un análisis de regresión lineal simple mostró que no hay asociación entre la concentración de proteínas y la inhibición 15-LOX (valor p = 0,493), este resultado sugiere que la actividad anti-lipooxigenasa podría ser debido a compuestos no proteicos.

Ulomoides dermestoides is used in traditional oriental medicine to alleviate inflammatory diseases and as an aphrodisiac. In Colombia, rural communities consume it as treatment for asthma. The purpose of this study was to obtain aqueous extracts of whole body of U. dermestoides and explore their potential to inhibit enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of inflammation regulators, 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) and cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2 (COXs). Extracts were obtained with phosphate buffered saline 0.01M (PBS) and ammonium bicarbonate 0.1M (NH4HCO3) in the presence of one detergent (Tween-20 or Sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Then, total soluble protein, electrophoretic profile and enzymatic activities at 19 hydrolases were determined. Inhibition of 15-LOX and COXs were measured by colorimetric method and enzymatic immunoassay respectively. The highest protein yield was obtained with PBS/SDS buffer (1.603 %p/p). This extract showed 13 major electrophoretic bands with molecular weights between 8.8 and 151.2 kDa; also, enzymatic phosphohydrolase, peptidase, esterase, B-glucuronidase, a-glucosidase, N-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase and a-mannosidase activities were proven. All extracts showed dual inhibitory activity for 15-LOX and COXs. The higher inhibitions for 15-LOX and COX-1 were obtained with PBS/SDS extract (15-LOX: 62.8±2%; COX-1: 88.5±3.9%). Additionally, a simple linear regression analysis showed non-relationship between the protein concentration and 15-LOX inhibition (p value = 0.493). This result suggests that anti-lipoxygenase activity could be due to non-protein compounds.

Capacidad antioxidante de extractos metanólicos de cuerpo entero del escarabajo Ulomoides dermestoides (Chevrolat, 1893) / Antioxidant capacity of whole-body methanolic extracts of the beetle Ulomoides dermestoides (Chevrolat, 1893)

Introducción: Ulomoides dermestoides es un escarabajo usado en medicina tradicional oriental. En Centroamérica y América del Sur los escarabajos se consumen vivos en casos de asma y artritis reumatoide; sin embargo, pocos estudios científicos confirman esta terapia. Objetivo: evaluar la capacidad antioxidante de extractos metánolicos del cuerpo entero de U. dermestoides. Métodos: los extractos fueron obtenidos mediante extracción discontinua con MeOH 48 % y 96 %. La capacidad antioxidante se determinó por el método ORAC y el ensayo de reducción del radical 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazilo (DPPH). Resultados: todos los extractos mostraron capacidad antioxidante, pero el extracto obtenido con MeOH 48 % y 48 h de extracción (UD4848) mostró mayor actividad: ORAC= 3,65±0,5 equivalentes trolox, reducción DPPH30min= 81,7 % y CI50 del DPPH30min= 23 µg/mL. Los principales componentes del extracto UD4848 fueron: ácidos grasos saturados e insaturados, n-pentadecanol y 4-etil-resorcinol. Conclusiones: la actividad antioxidante de extractos metanólicos de U. dermestoides puede explicar su utilidad in medicina popular.

Introduction: Ulomoides dermestoides is a beetle used in traditional Oriental medicine. In Central and South America beetles are eaten alive as a treatment for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, but few scientific studies validate this therapy. Objective: evaluate the antioxidant capacity of whole-body methanolic extracts of U. dermestoides. Methods: extracts were obtained by discontinuous extraction with 48 % and 96 % MeOH. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the ORAC method and the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical reduction assay. Results: all extracts showed antioxidant capacity, but the extract obtained with 48 % MeOH and 48 h extraction time (UD4848) exhibited higher activity: ORAC= 3.65±0.5 trolox equivalents, reduction DPPH30min= 81.7 % and IC50 of DPPH30min= 23 µg/mL. The main components in extract UD4848 were saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, n-pentadecanol and 4-ethyl resorcinol. Conclusions: the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of U. dermestoides may explain its use in folk medicine.

Composición química y capacidad anti-irritante de extractos de cuerpo entero de Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) / Chemical composition and anti-irritant capacity of whole body extracts of Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Background: In traditional medicine of Central and South America, the tenebrionid beetle Ulomoides dermestoides is used as an a phrodisiac, for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Recently was reported cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of non-polar extract of U. dermestoides; also anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity of aqueous whole body extract of beetle was reported, it suggests the existence of components with potential pharmacology use. On the other hand, it is necessary to identify those polar and non-polar extracts of U. dermestoides with anti-irritant properties for the membranes and blood vessels, which will be used in subsequence biological test and clinical assays. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to identify the chemical composition of methanolic and hexanic extracts of U. dermestoides, and to assess their anti-irritant capacity. Methods: The extracts were obtained from adult beetles of U. dermestoides. The chemical composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the anti-irritant effect of each extract was evaluated by means of a modified assay of irritation of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of fertilized chicken eggs (HET-CAM); the results were expressed as irritation index (IR). Results: Six common compounds were identified in both extracts: limonene, myristic, palmitic, estearic, oleic, and linoleic fatty acids. But in the alone methanolic extract were found: 1-pentadecanol, alpha-pinene, beta-phellandrene and alpha-terpinene, whereas in the hexanic extract were found: 2-methyl-p-benzoquinone, 2,4-dihidroxy-1-ethylbenzene, 2,5-dimethyl-quinone, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and alcohols. The methanolic extract of U. dermestoides showed potential anti-irritant effect in the HET-CAM test (IR = 3.09 ± 0.11), similar to that observed with Nimesulida (IR = 2.05 ± 0.14)...