Comparison of oil quality characteristics of Locusta migratoria, Allomyrina dichotoma, and Tenebrio molitor obtained using different extraction methods

Abstract

Abstract In preparation of future food shortages, edible insects are receiving more attention as alternative foods. However, research on the fat of edible insects and the newly permitted Locusta migratoria in South Korea has been insufficient. In this study, Soxhlet and three-phase partitioning (TPP) methods were used to extract the oils of L. migratoria, Allomyrina dichotoma, and Tenebrio molitor L., which are permitted as edible insects in South Korea. After measuring the yield of the extracted oils and comparing the difference between the species of edible insects and the extraction methods, the yield of T. molitor was the highest, followed by those of A. dichotoma and L. migratoria. In addition, yields were higher when oils were extracted using the Soxhlet method. The composition of fatty acids and volatile chemicals in the oils was measured using GC-FID and SPME-Arrow-GC-MS, respectively. Volatile concentrations extracted using the Soxhlet method were higher than those obtained using TPP and the major groups in the three oils were acids and pyrazines. The findings of this study can support more intensive research on edible insect oil and food utilisation.