Edible Insects: Nutritional, Medicinal and Allergenic Aspects

Edible insects are a natural food resource that provides nutritional, economic, and ecological benefits to many ethnic and tribal communities of Northeast India. Because of the warm and humid atmosphere, entomophagy is popular culturally and spiritually in tropical and subtropical countries. Many insects, such as lepidopterans, orthopterans, dictyopterans, isopterans, and hymenopterans are all considered common food sources. They have high nutritional and medicinal value that can contribute to food security, health promotion, and environmental sustainability. Natural enemies of pests may include various organisms like predators, parasitoids, pathogens and trap crops. However, they also have some health implications and allergenicity that need to be addressed by scientific research, regulatory policies, and public education. This article aims to explore the nutritive and medicinal paradigm of edible insects of northeast India and examine their health implications and allergenicity. It will review the existing literature on the topic and provide recommendations for future research, policy development, and consumer education.