Probing the antioxidant activity of functional proteins and bioactive peptides in Hermetia illucens larvae fed with food wastes

Jiaxin Lu,Yuwen Guo,Yizhan Qiu,Bei Zeng,Atif Muhmood,Pan Wang,Lianhai Ren

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06668-9

Jiaxin Lu, Yuwen Guo + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06668-9

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Abstract

Food waste is becoming more prevalent, and managing it is one of the most important issues in terms of food safety. In this study, functional proteins and bioactive peptides produced from the enzymatic digestion of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L., BSF) fed with food wastes were characterized and quantified using proteomics-based analysis. The results revealed approximately 78 peptides and 57 proteins, including 40S ribosomal protein S4, 60S ribosomal protein L8, ATP synthase subunit alpha, ribosomal protein S3, Histone H2A, NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase, Fumarate hydratase, RNA helicase, Chitin binding Peritrophin-A, Lectin C-type protein, etc. were found in BSF. Furthermore, functional analysis of the proteins revealed that the 60S ribosomal protein L5 (RpL5) in BSF interacted with a variety of ribosomal proteins and played a key role in the glycolytic process (AT14039p). Higher antioxidant activity was found in peptide sequences such as GYGFGGGAGCLSMDTGAHLNR, VVPSANRAMVGIVAGGGRIDKPILK, AGLQFPVGR, GFKDQIQDVFK, and GFKDQIQDVFK. It was concluded that the bioconversion of food wastes by BSF brought about the generation of a variety of functional proteins and bioactive peptides with strong antioxidant activity. However, more studies are required to exploit BSF's potential in the value addition of food wastes.

Highlights

Food waste is becoming more prevalent, and managing it is one of the most important issues in terms of food safety
Hermetia illucens known as the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), is an insect belonging to the order of Dipterans and family of Stratiomyidae with a life cycle consisting of five stages; egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult[12]
To address this knowledge gap, in this study, an integrated approach containing enzymatic hydrolysis and mass spectroscopy was employed for the efficient protein extraction and characterization of bioactive peptides from BSF feeding on food waste

Summary

Introduction

Food waste is becoming more prevalent, and managing it is one of the most important issues in terms of food safety. To address this knowledge gap, in this study, an integrated approach containing enzymatic hydrolysis and mass spectroscopy was employed for the efficient protein extraction and characterization of bioactive peptides from BSF feeding on food waste. The antioxidant properties of peptides in BSF extracts were determined by analyzing DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities.

Results

Conclusion