Insect Oil Research Articles

Insect-based diets high in lauric acid reduce liver lipids in freshwater Atlantic salmon

We evaluated the effect of a diet containing insect meal and insect oil on nutrient utilization, tissue fatty acid profile and lipid metabolism of freshwater Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Insect meal and insect oil from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens, L.; BSF), naturally high in lauric acid (12:0), were used to produce five experimental diets for an eight-week feeding trial. 85% of the dietary protein was replaced by insect meal and/or all the vegetable oil was replaced by one of two types of insect oil. A typical industrial diet, with protein from fishmeal and soy protein concentrate (50:50) and lipids from fish oil and vegetable oil (33:66), was fed to a control group. The dietary BSF larvae did not modify feed intake or whole body lipid content. Despite the high content of saturated fatty acids in the insect-based diets, the apparent digestibility coefficients of all fatty acids were high. There was a decrease in liver triacylglycerols of salmon fed the insect-based diets compared to the fish fed the control diet. This is likely due to the rapid oxidation and low deposition of the medium-chain fatty acid lauric acid.

Effects of replacing soybean oil with selected insect fats on broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate how oil obtained via super-critical CO2 extraction from Tenebrio molitor (TM) and Zophobas morio (ZM) larvae affect the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, lipid fatty acid composition of liver and breast tissue, and the expression of selected genes in the liver of broiler chickens. Two independent experiments were conducted on 72 and 108 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks, respectively. Birds were fed soybean-maize diets developed by replacing 50 g/kg of the basal diet with various fats i.e., soybean oil (SO) and TM (Exp. 1), or SO, TM, and ZM (Exp. 2). In both trials, birds were kept in metabolic cages over a 28 day period. The fatty acid profile of used energy sources was determined. Both insect oils had higher monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations comparing to SO. The addition of TM and ZM oil to the basal diet showed similar or better growth performance results compared to the SO diet over the entire experimental period. Insects’ oils addition increased nitrogen retention and the apparent digestibility of the ether extract in the total tract at days 7, 14, and 21 during TM administration. Similar effects on the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein and ether extract or on AMEN were recorded among all groups in the second trial. The usage of selected insect oils significantly affected the fatty acid compositions of liver and breast tissue. Only TM addition had a positive effect on the PUFA (P = 0.004), MUFA (P < 0.001), UFA (P = 0.016), and SFA (P = 0.016) of breast muscle. Simultaneously, the TM treatment lowered the thrombogenic (P = 0.011) and atherogenic (P = 0.001) indices in the breast. The positive influence of insect oils addition to the basal diet on selected gene (HNF4a; APOA1; GIMAP5) expression in the liver was observed. Overall, these results highlight the possibility of completely replacing SO with TM and ZM oils in broiler diets without adverse influences on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Moreover, the results of the present study suggest that TM oil positively affect meat quality which is a key factor for the modern consumer. It should be emphasized that both insect oils used in the study may be considered as a biologically active compounds modify molecular pattern at the mRNA level.

Potential of insect-based diets for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

In the present study, we aimed to assess the effect of dietary insect meal (IM) and insect oil (IO) on growth performance, body composition and nutrient digestibility of freshwater reared Atlantic salmon. The IM and IO were produced from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens, L.; BSF) that had been grown on (1) media containing organic waste streams, or on (2) media partially containing seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum). The feeding trial of the current study followed a factorial 2 × 3 way-ANOVA experimental design with six dietary groups of Atlantic salmon fed diets with insect-derived ingredients for 8 weeks. A typical industrial diet, with protein from fish meal and soy protein concentrate (SPC) (50:50) and lipids from fish oil and vegetable oil (33:66), was fed to a positive control group. Five experimental diets were formulated, where 85% of the dietary protein was replaced by IM and/or all the vegetable oil was replaced by IO (IM from insects grown on media 1, IO from insects grown on either media 1 (IO1) or media 2 (IO2)). Replacing the dietary fish meal and SPC with insect protein significantly reduced the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of protein, lipid and all amino acids investigated, though remained highly digestible. There were, however, only small differences due to protein or lipid source in growth performance, and no effects of insect ingredients on feed intake or feed conversion ratio. Inclusion of IM-based diets significantly increased both hepatosomatic index and visceral somatic index of Atlantic salmon. Proteinase activity in the intestine was not affected by dietary inclusion of BSF larvae meal, while leucine aminopeptidase activity was lower in fish fed with insect ingredients than the control group. Whole-body protein, lipid, amino acids and minerals contents were not affected by protein or lipid source. In general, this study showed that protein meal and oil from BSF larvae hold a great potential as a source of nutrients for Atlantic salmon.

Fractionation of insect oils: the case of yellow mealworm oil

Fractionation of insect oils: the case of yellow mealworm oil

Pilot‐scale supercritical CO2 extraction of edible insect oil from Tenebrio molitor L. larvae – Influence of extraction conditions on kinetics, defatting performance and compositional properties

In view of industrial fractionation processes for edible insects, supercritical CO2 extraction of Tenebrio molitor larval oil was studied. The influence of extraction parameters on defatting of larvae was investigated using a full factorial design. Furthermore, the effect of operating conditions on extraction kinetics, fatty acid composition, and acidity of mealworm oil was evaluated. Pressure, time, and their interaction showed the most significant effects on defatting. Maximal defatting (95%) was achieved at 400/250 bar, 45°C, and 105 min. Extraction kinetics revealed that incrementing pressure increased the solubility of mealworm oil in SC–CO2 enabling faster extraction. Extracted oils contained 72% unsaturated fatty acids, and oleic acid accounted for 42% of total FAME. Oil composition and acidity were found to be affected by extraction parameters showing the highest amount of low molecular and free fatty acids after slow extraction at 250 bar and 65°C. Use of selective extraction conditions enabled simple time‐dependent fractionation and deacidification yielding fractions with tailored fatty acid profiles or facilitating subsequent refining processes, respectively. Defatting performance and oil composition were not substantially different when using hexane as a solvent in comparison to SC–CO2. Mealworm larvae can be effectively defatted using SC–CO2 at high pressure and moderate temperature, yielding two valuable fractions: oil‐ and protein‐rich residue.Practical applications: Mealworm larvae are promising candidates for the inclusion of edible insects in the western food and feed industry due to modest breeding demands, existing rearing knowledge, and high contents of protein and fat. The development of fractionation processes for the production of standardized insect bulk materials and incorporation in feed or food in analogy to soy and other plant raw materials rich in fat and protein will help gain industrial applicability and enhance consumer acceptance. Depending on the processing approach, a defatting step is crucial prior to protein extraction. The results of this study indicate that SC–CO2 extraction is suitable for achieving a high yield of solvent‐free oil and a protein‐enriched, solvent‐free residue at low extraction temperatures. Both fractions can be further refined and purified in order to achieve valuable intermediates for food and feed applications.The SC–CO2 extraction of mealworms yielded highly unsaturated oil and a defatted residue containing protein and chitin. The operating parameters clearly affected the defatting performance and the extraction rate.

Latest trends in feedstocks for biodiesel production

AbstractEdible seed oil biodiesel has been criticized due to its low sustainability and potential conflict with food and fiber production for the use of arable land, besides high water and fertilizer requirements. In this context, biodiesel from non‐edible sources, like animal fat, waste oil, insect oil, or single cell oil constitutes an alternative biofuel that omits the previous drawbacks. In this review and taking into account the previous consideration, the most interesting feedstocks for biodiesel production are shown. While frying oils and animal fats constitute the most extensively studied non‐edible raw materials for biodiesel production, soapstocks are gaining interest among the scientific community. Finally, promising feedstocks for biodiesel production, such as microbial oil (also named single cell oil), insect oil, or microdiesel are reviewed. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Insect oil and protein: Biochemistry, food and other uses: Review

In searching for new sources of oil, protein and gelatin researchers have investigated many wild plants, but our research group took a different approach: We looked at insects as oil, protein and gelatin source for both nutritional and industrial applications. According to Sudanese indigenous knowledge, many insects have food and medicinal uses. We targeted two of these insects for our research:Aspongopus vidiuatus(melon bug) and Agonoscelis pubescens(sorghum bug). The two insects showed 27.0% and 28.2% crude protein, 45% and 60% oil, respectively. The oils contained 46.5% and 40.9% oleic acid, 3.4% and 34.5% linoleic acid, 44.2% and 12.1% palmitic acid and traces of linolenic acid,respectively. The tocopherol content of theseoils amounted to 0.3 and 34.0 mg/100g oil, respectively. The total content of sterols in the two oils was 17 and 450 mg/100g oil, respectively, whereasβ-sitosterol was determined as the main compound in all oils with about 60% of the totalsterol. The oxidative stability of the oils, asmeasured by the Rancimat test at 120°C, was 38 and 5.1 h, respectively. Edible gelatin was extracted from the two insect using hot water and mild acid and distilled water. SDS-PAGE patterns ofthe insect gelatins had very low molecularweight chains, and the two gelatins contained 40 kDa asmain component, differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed the difference betweenextraction methods concerning the extracted gelatin quality. FTIR spectra of melon and sorghum bug gelatins were similar and the absorption bands were situated in more than 6 bands in melon bug gelatin and only 6 bands in sorghum bug gelatin. Microstructures of the insect gelatinexamined with the scanning electron microscope showed that melon bug exhibited the finest gelatin network with very small voids. Melon bug gelatin showed the finer structure with smallerprotein strands and voids than sorghum buggelatin. Ice cream was made by using 0.5% insect’sgelatine and compared with that made using 0.5%commercial gelatine as stabilizing agent. The properties of the obtained ice cream produced using insects gelatine were found to be acceptable for the panelists, and no significant differences between ice cream made using insect gelatine when compared with that made using commercial gelatine in their general preferences The behavior of the crude Sorghum bug oil during deep-frying of par-fried potatoes was studied with regard to chemical, physical, and sensory parameters, such as the content ofFFA, tocopherols, polar compounds, oligomerTG, volatile compounds, oxidative stability, and totaloxidation (TOTOX) value. The results showed that the oil was suitable for deep-frying of potatoes. The oxidative stability of sunflower kernel oil was improved by blending with melon bug oil, the oxidative stability in the Rancimat test was improved from 5% to 68% compared to the control, with increasing parts of MBO, respectively. The insect oils were transesterified using methanol or ethanol in the presence of sulfuricacid to obtain biodiesel. The obtained insectbiodiesel characteristics were studied in accordance with the DIN EN 14214 specifications for biodiesel. It was possible to prepare the methyl and ethyl esters catalyzed by H2SO4 from the two insect oils.

FUMIGANT TOXICITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM PISTACIA LENTISCUS L. (ANACARDIACEA) AGAINST STORED-PRODUCT INSECTS

During the past few decades, the need for safer means of pest management have become crucial due to the harmful effects of synthetic insecticides on the environment, problems related to pests' resurgence and resistance to pesticide and risk for users. Therefore, a growing interest in research concerning the possible use of plant extracts as alternatives to synthetic insecticides was developed. In this study, we report first investigations on chemical constituents and fumigant toxicity of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiacea) essential oil against 1-7 day-old adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). The major compounds of the essential oil determined using the GC and the GC-MS were: α-phellandrene (3.20%), α-pinene (9.48%) and limonene (19.11%). Oil amounts tested were 5 and 45 μl in each 44 ml Plexiglas bottle with capacity corresponding to concentrations 114 and 1023 μl/L air. Great differences in insect mortality were observed within insect species, oil concentrations and exposure time. The fumigant toxicity potential of P. lentiscus on L. serricorne was higher (LC 50 = 8.44 μl/L, LC 95 = 43.68 μl/L) than T. castaneum (LC 50 =28.03 μl/L, LC 95 =63.46 μl/L). The results suggested that P. lentiscus essential oil may have potential as a control agent against these two stored product beetles.

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ASPONGOPUS VIDUATUS (MELON BUG) OIL

ABSTRACTAspongopus viduatus (melon bug) oil is insect oil used as famine food in western parts of Sudan and has traditional medicinal uses. The antibacterial activities of melon bug crude oil, silicic acid column purified oil and phenolic compounds‐free oil were determined by agar diffusion assay against seven bacterial isolates, four of them are food‐related bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, and the three other isolates are: B. subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The main constituents of this oil were examined. The crude oil and the phenolic compounds‐free oil showed high antibacterial activities against some test species while the silicic acid column purified oil showed no antibacterial activity. The study highlights the possibility of using this oil in food preservation.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSIn this study, the antimicrobial properties and main components of insect oil (Aspongopus viduatus) were identified. The oil has traditional medicinal uses in human and animal skin diseases and is also used for meat dressing before drying in western regions of Sudan. The oil has long stability against rancidity because of its high oleic acid content. This oil in its crude form or phenolic compounds‐free form could be used in meat and meat products preservation processes to control gram‐positive bacteria.