ENHANCING THE NUTRITIONAL PROFILE OF TENEBRIO MOLITOR USING THE LEAVES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

Abstract

Increasingly Tenebrio molitor larvae feeds are being researched in order to increase their nutritional value and be a valuable ingredient in the human diet. Therefore, in this study, Moringa oleifera leaves were used in different proportions (up to 50%) to substitute wheat bran in order to evaluate their composition in crude protein, fat, ash, vitamins and antioxidants. Adding M. oleifera leaves into the feed of T. molitor increased its nutritional value. Notably, an increase in crude protein up to 22.61% and vitamin C and A content up to 40.74% and 491.63% respectively was recorded.