• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.104-115
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• 2015

This study investigated the quality of muffins prepared with various concentrations of mealworm. Samples of muffins were prepared with the addition of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8% mealworm powder to the flour of basic formulation. The weight of muffins decreased as the concentration of the mealworm powder increased. The height indices of muffins containing mealworm powder were higher than that of the control. The volume index of the MW2(2%) muffin was the highest. The pH of muffins containing mealworm powder was higher than that of the control, although moisture content lower. Lightness and yellowness decreased with an increase in the mealworm powder concentration, but redness increased. No significant difference in hardness was found from increased powder concentration. The total polyphenol content and antioxidative activity measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of muffins significantly increased as the concentration of the mealworm powder increased. Muffins containing 1~8% mealworm powder had acceptable sensory properties, such as flavor, taste, and overall acceptability. The results of this study suggest that mealworm powder is a good ingredient for consumer acceptability and functionality of muffins.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.955-961
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• 2017

Edible insects are attracting growing interest as a sustainable source of protein for addition to processed meat and dairy products. The current study investigated the optimal method for protein extraction from mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor), cricket adults (Gryllus bimaculatus), and silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori), for use in further applications. After defatting with n-hexane for up to 48 h, sonication was applied for 1-20 min and the protein yield was measured. All samples showed a total residual fat percentage below 1.36%, and a 35% to 94% improvement in protein yield (%). In conclusion, defatting with n-hexane combined with sonication improves the protein yield from insect samples.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2016

This study was performed to develop and evaluate cookies prepared with various amounts (0 g, 12.5 g, 25 g and 37.5 g) of mealworm powder to serve as not only sports snacks but also for the general population as a new protein source. In the chromaticity of mealworm cookies, lightness and yellowness decreased whereas redness increased with more mealworm powder. The hardness of the mealworm cookies increased as more mealworm powder was added. In sensory evaluation, higher preference was shown with the measure of color, taste, and overall preference for mealworm cookies prepared with 50% mealworm powder (MP2). For the general composition of MP2, the moisture, carbohydrate, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash were higher compared with the control cookie. For the mineral contents of MP2, the contents of Ca (33.44 mg/100 g), P (225.13 mg/100 g), Mg (82.21 mg/100 g), Na (246.22 mg/100 g), and K (503.49 mg/100 g) were higher compared with the control cookie. The essential amino acids (valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, and histidine) in MP2 were also higher compared with the control cookie. It was concluded that MP2 can be used as a new protein source for not only the maintenance of muscle but also for the prevention of muscle loss in old people.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.219-222
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• 2021

In this study, we examined low molecular weight peptides using proteomics in order to identify their original proteins, derive their peptides, and determine the functions of the proteins in Tenebrio molitor, the mealworm (larvae, pupae, or adult) from which the peptides were extracted. Fifty-four proteins were finally identified through an analysis of proteome to derive the analyzed peptides. The proteins that induced low molecular weight peptides were identified to be the most abundant in adults only, and the next highest were derived from a group containing both adults and larva. However, other groups, including pupa, were detected to have a lower frequency of peptides. As a result of orthologous classification of the detected proteins, the general function prediction was only investigated at the highest frequency among the examined proteins. Proteins related to chromatin structure and dynamics were detected by their higher frequency among functional classes. The next highest frequency was shown by proteins related to amino acid transport and metabolism and carbohydrate transport and metabolism. Therefore, it is assumed that proteins correlated with chromatin, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolisms are easily induced into low molecular weight peptides, and that their peptides could play a role as bioactive substances.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2013

Although the mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor) is high protein source, aversion feature of the larva made it difficult for consuming as a food. In this study, we established optimal powder manufacturing process for T. molitor larva for using as a novel food. For this purpose, it should be feed with the bran sterilized by water vapor for 3-5 days, starved without water or food for 3 days, and then the larvae were sterilized before freeze-drying. The sterilized T. molitor was lyophilzed and grinded by a blender. A safety of the powder as a food was validated by evaluation of Raw 264.7 macrophage cytotoxicity using MTS assay. As above results, we propose that optimal powder manufacturing process established in this study can be used in industrial production of T. molitor as a novel food.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.656-663
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was aimed to compare the nutritional content of the life stages of Tenebrio molitor. Methods: Nutritional element analysis comprised 12 minerals, 18 amino acids, 4 vitamins, and 12 fatty acids in larval, pupal, and adult stages. Nutritional element content was expressed as a percentage of 100 g of sample and determined in raw and freeze-dried samples to assess the food value of the insect. Results: Moisture, crude protein, and crude fat contents in raw samples were 63.5%, 23.19%, and 3.96%, respectively. Moisture content was significantly higher in the adult stage than in larval and pupal stages, whereas crude fat and crude ash contents were lower. Mineral composition of the mealworm showed K, P, and Mg in decreasing order of content, with no differences among life stages. Total amino acid content increased from adult, pupal to larval stages, in order with each stage's growth, without difference in amino acid composition. Seventy-six to 78% of total fatty acid corresponded to unsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid as the most abundant. In addition, fatty acid content was high in the adult stage, and clear differences were observed between life stages. Finally, vitamins B1 and B3 showed similar content between life stages, whereas vitamin B2 showed a higher content the adult than larval and pupal stages. A higher folate content was observed in pupal and adult stages than in the larval stage. Although freeze-dried samples showed a higher nutritional content than raw samples, both samples were similar in composition and content between life stages, suggesting the suitability of freeze-dried samples for use as food materials. Conclusion: These results may provide a basis for more diversified industrial applications of the Tenebrio molitor.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

As increasing utilization of Tenebrio molitor for industry, establishing effective conditions of indoor mass-rearing system become more important. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the physiological characteristics of Tenebrio molitor in different range of temperatures, photoperiods and rearing densities for mass breeding. As a result, their egg had above 70% hatching rate at $17.5{\sim}27.5^{\circ}C$ and the egg period was shown 5~7 days in $25{\sim}35^{\circ}C$. Consequently, in the consideration of the hatching rates and egg periods, the optimal indoor temperature for rearing was $25{\sim}27.5^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, development period of larvae in mass breeding system was shorter than individual breeding system under all the conditions of temperature. Also, the pupal weight was higher in mass breeding system except for $20^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. Considering elasticity of demand and weight of production, the effective condition was mass-breeding system at $25^{\circ}C$. In photoperiodic condition, the shortest of larval period was 157.35 day in 14L : 10D.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.516-523
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• 2020

Supercritical carbon dioxide (_SCO2) extraction was applied for the defatting of mealworm to prepare defatted powder (DP) and protein isolate (PI) and compare the process to press and hexane extraction, with respect to DP and PI physicochemical properties. _SCO2 DP was obtained by extracting 34.40% oil at 41.37 MPa, 40℃ for 180 min, and the product contained 71.66% crude protein, which is similar to that of hexane DP and higher than that of press DP. In using alkali protein extraction to prepare PI from DP, _SCO2 was as effective as hexane and better than press. _SCO2 produced brighter DP and PI than press, but not as much as hexane. Protein solubility was similar in all DP, with minimum values at pH 5. The highest water adsorption capacity was noticeable for _SCO2 PI, and _SCO2 DP showed an oil adsorption capacity comparable to that of hexane DP. _SCO2 DP and PI had better foaming capacity than press DP and PI and showed superior emulsion activity compared to others.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 2022

Defatted soybean, larvae of brown mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and powdered pupae of silkworm (Bombyx mori) were fermented in solid and liquid forms using Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis. The protein degradation rate (NDR) through solid fermentation was the highest in the fermented soybean control sample (54.69±6.54%), followed by silkworm pupae (34.82±5.99%) and brown mealworm larvae (30.54±3.80%). When these edible insects were fermented in liquid form, solid extraction yield was 37.73-46.88%, and protein yield was 47.47-63.02%. NDR of fermented liquid form products increased to 58.90, 52.62, and 50.13% for soybean, brown mealworm larvae, and silkworm pupae, respectively. SDS-PAGE of the liquid fermented products confirmed that microbial fermentation decomposed higher-molecular-weight proteins into small polypeptides. In vitro digestibility of liquid forms of edible insects increased by 1.26 to 1.53 times after fermentation. The protein solubility, foaming ability, and foam stability of liquid-fermented edible insects all tended to increase through fermentation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2_spc
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• pp.347-355
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• 2022

Among edible insects, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and common housefly (Musca domestica) have been considered as an alternative protein source for pigs. Because they are easy to breed and grow in the organic wastes, and they have well-balanced nutritional value as a protein source for pigs. The black soldier fly larvae and mealworm could replace the fish meal in the diets for weaned pigs without adverse effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Black soldier fly could also be included in the finishing pig's diet without any negative effects on the growth performance and pork quality of the market pigs. Insect products showed a greater standardized ileal digestibility value of amino acids than conventional animal proteins in growing pigs. Due to the limited amount of insect products used for pig feeding study, most previous pig studies have been conducted in weaned pigs. Thus, further study is needed about the optimal inclusion level of insect products in every phase diet from weaned pigs to sows. The use of insect products in swine diets has some challenges in terms of cost, supply, and safety. Lastly, intrinsic differences among insect species, processing method, and feeding phase should be taken into consideration for the use of insect products in the swine diets.