Effect of Apriona germari on Blood Enzyme Activity and Intestinal Bacteria Count in Individuals with Diarrhea

PurposeTo study the effects of the medicinal resource insect Apriona germari powder as a feed additive on bacterial count of intestinal tract, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the serum and the activities of digestion-related enzymes.

MethodsThe diarrhea mouses model was established by injecting the bacterial suspension of Escherichia coli into the abdominal cavity of the mice, and the feed with 12%, 8%, 4% and 0% A. germari powder was fed to mice, respectively. The bacterial count of E. coli and total bacteria in mouse intestines, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, GST and CAT) and digestion-related enzymes (AMS, LPS and LDH) in mouse serum were tested.

ResultsThe bacterial count of E. coli and total bacteria in the intestines of mice in the 12% A. germari powder group were significantly lower than those of the model control group (P<0.05). The activities of four antioxidant enzymes and three digestion-related enzymes in serum of the three groups with A. germari powder were significantly higher than those of the model group (P<0.05), and the seven related enzymes in mouse serum increased with the increase of the dosage of A. germari powder.

ConclusionA. germari powder can increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and digestive enzymes in serum, and it can effectively reduce the bacterial count of E. coli and total bacteria in intestines of diarrhea mice. Among them, the effect is the most significant when the dose is 12%.