• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2020

Edible insects might be used as a means to solve food insecurity caused by population growth. Many studies have investigated the biological activity of insects; however, few studies have investigated the nutritional value of insects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional value of Allomyrina dichotoma larva protein (ADP) as a source of protein replacement. In vivo studies were conducted to determine the food efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and true digestibility (TD) of ADP. Experiments were conducted in 3 groups of 8 animals per group using twenty-four 4-week-old SD rats. The experimental groups included the general diet group (Con), in which 20% of the total Kcal in the diet was composed of casein protein, and the ADP group (ADP), in which 20% of the total Kcal was composed of ADP protein, and a non-protein diet group (NP) to measure the protein (metabolic fecal nitrogen) excreted by metabolic processes in the body. As a result of this experiment, we found that the FERs were 0.52 and 0.41 in the casein protein intake (Con) and ADP groups, respectively, thus showing a significantly lower level in the ADP group. The PERs of ADP and Con were 2.39 and 2.63, respectively. The TD of Con and ADP were 91% and 80%, respectively.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.294-308
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Allomyrina dichotoma larva (ADL), one of the many edible insects recognized as future food resources, has a range of pharmacological activities. In a previous study, an ADL extract (ADLE) reduced the hepatic insulin resistance of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. On the other hand, the associated molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction remain unclear. This study examined the effects of ADLE on palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in a beta cell line of a rat origin, INS-1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: ADLE was administered to high-fat diet treated mice. The expression of apoptosis-related molecules was measured by Western blotting, and reactive oxidative stress generation and nitric oxide production were measured by DCH-DA fluorescence and a Griess assay, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of ADLE to HFD-induced diabetic mice reduced the hyperplasia, 4-hydroxynonenal levels, and the number of apoptotic cells while improving the insulin levels compared to the HFD group. Treatment of INS-1 cells with palmitate reduced insulin secretion, which was attenuated by the ADLE treatment. Furthermore, the ADLE treatment prevented palmitate-induced cell death in INS-1 cells and isolated islets by reducing the apoptotic signaling molecules, including cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. ADLE also reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species generation, lipid accumulation, and nitrite production in palmitate-treated INS-1 cells while increasing the ATP levels. This effect corresponded to the decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. CONCLUSIONS: ADLE helps prevent lipotoxic beta-cell death in INS-1 cells and HFD-diabetic mice, suggesting that ADLE can be used to prevent or treat beta-cell damage in glucose intolerance during the development of diabetes.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.849-859
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• 2016

Edible insects have gained recognition worldwide as complementary protein sources. Recently, four edible insects were newly allowed to be used as food materials in Korea: the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), the cricket (Velarifictorus asperses), the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva (Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis), and the rhinoceros beetle larva (Allomyrina dichotoma). In this study, we evaluated the oxidative stabilities of these four edible insects during cold storage. The insects were sacrificed by blanching for 3 minutes in boiling water. The blanched insects were then stored at $4^{\circ}C$ in an incubator for 42 days. The color values, titratable acidity, peroxide values, acid values, TBARS, contents of VBN, and total plate counts of the insects were measured at days 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, respectively. Blanching decreases oxidative stresses during storage. At day 0, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva showed the highest values for acid value, TBARS, VBN, and microbial counts. Most of the oxidative indicators were significantly changed at day 14 in all four insects, possibly related with the growth on all microbial plates. Based on microbial safety and the oxidative stabilities of lipids and proteins, optimal storage conditions for the cricket, the white-spotted flower chaffer beetle larva, and the rhinoceros beetle larva were 10~14 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Likewise, the mealworm showed rapid oxidation after day 14, but poor qualities were not observed until day 28.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.702-707
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• 2017

Insects and their extract have been traditionally used as medicinal resources in Asia. Recently, Gryllus bimaculatus and the larva of Tenebrio molitor, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Allomyrina dichotoma were enlisted as general food ingredients by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As the interest in these insects is growing, the detailed investigation is needed for the standardization of suitable and safe rearing techniques. This survey was conducted via personal interviews about edible insect rearing farms in Korea. The basic feed is fermented oak sawdust for P. brevitarsis and A. dichotoma and wheat bran for T. molitor. The various feed additives are blended with each farm's own recipes. The overall growth condition, including sawdust fermentation method, feeding period, and rearing density, varies among the investigated farms. It seems that weight of last instar larva was correlated with the rearing density and duration of the larval period. The heavy metal contents were analyzed after 48 hour starvation and they were very small amount or not detected in investigated insects. We believe that the present data will contribute to develop and standardize the safe rearing techniques of edible insects in Korea.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2013

The fibrinolytic activity of aqueous extracts from Korean indigenous insects were studied. Fibrinolytic activity of aqueous extract from 5 insects (larva and adult parts of Meloimorpha japonica, Allomyrina dichotoma, Cetonia pilifera, Apis mellifera) showed 2.7-fold potent than that of plasmin used as a positive control. In addition, the fibrinolytic activity was observed through the degradation products by SDS-PAGE. The extracts efficiently hydrolyzed ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$ and ${\gamma}$ chains of human fibrinogen. This study suggested that aqueous extracts from Korean indigenous insects have potential in developing a useful source of antithrombosis agent(s).