Farm-raised sago palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) larvae: Potential and challenges for promising source of nutrients

Abstract

Edible farm-raised insects are regarded as a potentially environmentally sustainable and nutritious alternative to traditional protein sources. The compositional and nutritional properties of farmed insect may be governed by the raising methods and feeding ingredients. Here, sago palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) larvae (SPWL) from three different farms in Southern Thailand were analyzed for chemical composition and nutritional values. At the same age, all samples showed different morphometric parameters and compositional constituents due to the different raising methods and feeding ingredients. The crude fat, protein and chitin contents were 52.4–60.1%, 18.0–28.5% and 3.8–4.5% (dry weight), respectively. The SPWL were rich in macro- (potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and calcium) and micro- (zinc, manganese, iron, and copper) elements. Alkali soluble protein was a major fraction followed by sarcoplasmic, stromal, and myofibrillar proteins with the molecular weights of 13−225 kDa. Nine essential amino acids were detected. The crude SPWL lipids were composed of phospholipid (2.6–9.3 g/100 g), carotenoid (0.7−0.9 mg/100 g), tocopherol (18.8–22.2 mg/100 g), cholesterol (138−227 mg/100 g), and free fatty acid (2.0–8.4 g/100 g) with a low peroxide value (2.0–4.0 meq/kg). Palmitic (49.4–53.3%) and oleic (42.2–46.9%) acids were found as the major fatty acids. Other PUFAs such as linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA were identified (1.6–2.4%). Therefore, farmed SPWL are a promising source of nutrients, which can be beneficial for consumers.