03 Ara 2024 Salı
Significance of insect products in pharmaceutical industry: A review
Abstract : Animals have been used as medicinal resources for the treatment and relieve of a myriad of illnesses and diseases in practically every human culture. In modern societies, Zootherapy constitutes an important alternative among many other known therapies practiced worldwide. Wild and domestic animals and their byproducts for example hooves, skin, bones, feathers and tusks etc. form important ingredients in the preparation of curative, protective and preventive medicine. In India, nearly 15–20 percent of the Ayurvedic medicines are based on animal-derived substances. In Unani system of medicines, about 200 drug of animal origin are described which are claimed to be beneficial for the treatment of the various ailments. Since early times, insects and their products have been used, directly and indirectly, in the medical systems of different human cultures throughout the world. The medicinal use of insects and insect-derived products is called entomotherapy. Although, entomotherapy is an ancient practice, it is still little known in the academic world. Hundreds of insect species have been used as human food, such as grasshopper, caterpillars, beetle grubs and sometimes adults, winged termites, bee, wasp, ant, cicadas, and a variety of aquatic insects. The beauty of insects, their brilliant colors and color patterns have been utilized by artists, jewelers, and designers. A number of insects were found to have been used as food, in rituals and in prevention and treatment of variety of diseases in folk and traditional medicine. In the current article, efforts have been made to compile and provide a comprehensive idea about the use of insects and their products in formulation of drugs.