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2026 Vol.53, Issue 2 Preview Page

Food & Chemistry

Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide
Ji Myung Choi1
,
Mi So Cho2
,
Bo Gyeong Jeong3
,
Ji Hyun Kim23*
,
Hyun Young Kim23*
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Korea
2Department of Food Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
3Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Korea
*Corresponding Author
1 June 2026. pp. 209-220
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Abstract

Oxidative stress is a major contributing factor to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. This study investigated the nutritional composition, in vitro radical scavenging activities, and neuroprotective effects of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in C6 glial cells and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The P. brevitarsis larvae powder contained 51.10% crude protein, 16.10% crude fat, and 20.80% carbohydrates. In addition, P. brevitarsis larvae contained free amino acids, with high amounts of glutamic acid, arginine, leucine, lysine, and valine. The ethanol extract of P. brevitarsis larvae increased 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities and exhibited over 90% hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The ethanol extract (5 - 25 µg·mL-1) of P. brevitarsis larvae significantly increased cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in H2O2-treated C6 glial cells, compared to the H2O2-treated control group. Similarly, treatment of the extract (1 - 5 µg·mL-1) significantly increased cell viability and attenuated LDH activity and ROS generation induced by oxidative stress in H2O2-treated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. These results indicated that P. brevitarsis larvae attenuated neuronal oxidative stress in both neuronal and glial cells.

Keywords
antioxidant
glial cell
hydrogen peroxide
neuronal cell
Protaetia brevitarsis larvae
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Information
  • Publisher :Institute of Agricultural Science, Chungnam National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :충남대학교 농업과학연구소
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업과학연구
  • Volume : 53
  • No :2
  • Pages :209-220
  • Received Date : 2026-02-24
  • Revised Date : 2026-05-06
  • Accepted Date : 2026-05-08
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7744/kjoas.530209
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