Antilipidemic effects and gene expression profiling of the glycosaminoglycans from cricket in rats on a high fat diet

Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) was studied as a potential health supplement. Antiatherosclerotic and antilipidemic effects of the GAG of G. bimaculatus (GbG, 5 or 10 mg/kg) were investigated in 15-week old Wistar rats treated with GbG for over a month. GbG produced a meaningful anti-edema effect with inhibition of C-reactive protein (CRP). Also, the weights of abdominal and epididymidal fat were also reduced in conjunction with a mild increase in body weight. Furthermore, the sero-biochemical parameters showed an antihyperlipidemic effect with decreased levels of phospholipid, AST, ALT, total cholesterol and glucose in a dose-dependent manner. In addition anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects were seen: platelet, thrombin time, prothrombin time and Factor I were increased with GbG treatment. Furthermore, the GbG treated rat group (at 10 mg/kg) compared to control, showed that 588 genes (test/control ratio >2.0) including lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2 m) were up-regulated, and 569 genes (test/control ratio >0.5) including stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (Scd1) were down-regulated. Based on these results, GbG could potentially prevent or treat fatty liver or hyperlipidemia in rats on a high-fat diet.