In Vitro Study of Cricket Chitosan's Potential as a Prebiotic and a Promoter of Probiotic Microorganisms to Control Pathogenic Bacteria in the Human Gut.

Carolyne Kipkoech,John N Kinyuru,Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow,Samuel Imathiu,Nanna Roos

doi:10.3390/foods10102310

Abstract

In this study, cricket chitosan was used as a prebiotic. Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis were identified as probiotic bacteria. Cricket chitin was deacetylated to chitosan and added to either De Man Rogosa and Sharpe or Salmonella/Shigella bacterial growth media at the rates of 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20% to obtain chitosan-supplemented media. The growth of the probiotic bacteria was monitored on chitosan-supplemented media after 6, 12, 24, and 48 h upon incubation at 37 °C. Growth of Salmonella typhi in the presence of probiotic bacteria in chitosan-supplemented media was evaluated under similar conditions to those of the growth of probiotic bacteria by measuring growth inhibition zones (in mm) around the bacterial colonies. All chitosan concentrations significantly increased the populations of probiotic bacteria and decreased the populations of pathogenic bacteria. During growth, there was a significant pH change in the media with all probiotic bacteria. Inhibition zones from probiotic bacteria growth supernatant against Salmonella typhi were most apparent at 16 mm and statistically significant in connection with a 10% chitosan concentration. This study suggests cricket-derived chitosan can function as a prebiotic, with an ability to eliminate pathogenic bacteria in the presence of probiotic bacteria.

Highlights

Crickets are edible insects and farms to rear them commercially have been established in several countries around the world in recent years [1]
We focus on cricket chitin in connection with pre-and probiotics and show that this component of the cricket body when ingested can exert a beneficial influence on the gut flora of human consumers and need not be regarded as useless [4,9,10]
There was no significant change in Salmonella typhi growth in chitosan-supplemented media, and the normal bacterial growth curve was lacking, which may indicate that Salmonella typhi growth was suppressed by the presence of chitosan

Summary

Introduction

Crickets are edible insects and farms to rear them commercially have been established in several countries around the world in recent years [1]. We focus on cricket chitin in connection with pre-and probiotics and show that this component of the cricket body when ingested can exert a beneficial influence on the gut flora of human consumers and need not be regarded as useless [4,9,10]. Widely referred to as probiotics, have been defined as live microorganisms that positively affect the host’s organism by improving the intestine’s microbial balance [10]. Probiotic bacteria are known to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria by lowering the pH and by producing growth-suppressing metabolites. In this way they protect an organism against gastrointestinal illnesses [11]

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Conclusion