Alleviating Effects of Zophobas morio and Tenebrio molitor Larvae Protein Powder on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Mice

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic, recurrent intestinal inflammatory disorder with an unclear etiology. Current pharmaceutical therapies for IBD still have several side effects, necessitating safer and more effective strategies. Edible insects are novel nutritional and bioactive resources with potential anti-inflammatory properties, but the effects of Zophobas morio larvae (ZML) and Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML) on IBD remain insufficiently explored. A 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model was established to evaluate ZML protein powder (ZMLpp) and TML protein powder (TMLpp). Disease Activity Index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, histopathology, inflammatory cell infiltration (LCA/MPO staining), inflammatory cytokines (Ccl2, Cxcl1, Ptgs2, Nf-κb), and intestinal microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing) were determined. The result showed that compared with the DSS group, both ZMLpp and TMLpp significantly reduced DAI, mitigated weight loss and hematochezia/diarrhea, restored colon length, attenuated mucosal damage, and preserved goblet cells and crypts, inflammatory cell infiltration, downregulated cytokine expression, improved fecal microbiota dysbiosis, such as increased abundance of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia. These findings demonstrate that both ZMLpp and TMLpp alleviate DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting inflammation and modulating the microbiota, supporting their application in IBD therapy and the development of anti-colitis functional foods or pharmaceuticals.