Production of Functional Peptide with Anti-obesity Effect from Defatted Tenebrio molitor Larvae Using Proteolytic Enzyme

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity effect of peptides derived from defatted mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larvae) and to determine the expression level of obesity-related membrane-associated proteins in the rat muscle. The production of functional peptide was produced by hydrolysis of mealworm protein using commercial enzymes. To evaluate anti-obesity effects through animal feeding experiments, a total of thirty-two rats were randomly divided into control diet (CD), 5% mealworm peptide supplemented control diet (CT), high-fat diet (HD), and 5% mealworm peptide supplemented high-fat diet group (HT). The weight loss of HT was confirmed by mealworm peptides feeding. The weights of fat tissues (perirenal and epididymal) of HT were significantly decreased, however, soleus muscle weight of HT was significantly increased compared to those of the HD, respectively. The expression levels of obesity-related membrane-associated proteins (FABPpm, PGC-1α, and PPAR) in HT group involved in fatty acid transport and utilization were significantly higher than that of the HD. From these results, mealworm peptide supplement showed an anti-obesity effect by stimulation of FABPpm, PGC-1α, and PPAR-δ in skeletal muscle and then showed an increase in muscle weight along with body weight loss in HT group.