BackgroundInsects play an important role as a diet supplement in Burkina Faso, but the preferred insect species vary according to the phytogeographical zone, ethnic groups, and gender. The present study aims at documenting indigenous knowledge on edible insects in Burkina Faso.MethodsA structured ethno-sociological survey was conducted with 360 informants in nine villages located in two phytogeographical zones of Burkina Faso. Identification of the insects was done according to the classification of Scholtz. Chi-square tests and principal component analysis were performed to test for significant differences in edible insect species preferences among phytogeographical zones, villages, ethnic groups, and gender.ResultsEdible insects were available at different times of the year. They were collected by hand picking, digging in the soil, and luring them into water traps. The edible insects collected were consumed fried, roasted, or grilled. All species were indifferently consumed by children, women, and men without regard to their ages. A total of seven edible insect species belonging to five orders were cited in the Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso. Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur), Cirina butyrospermi (Vuillet, 1911), Kraussaria angulifera (Krauss, 1877), Gryllus campestris (Linnaeus, 1758), and Carbula marginella (Thunberg) (35.66–8.47% of the citations) were most cited whereas Rhynchophorus phoenicis (Fabricius, 1801) and Oryctes sp. (3.41–0.27%) were least cited. Cirina butyrospermi was most cited in the South Sudanian zone, whereas Macrotermes subhyalinus and Kraussaria angulifera were most cited in the North Sudanian zone but were cited in all nine villages. Cirina butyrospermi was preferred by Bobo, Guin, Sambla, Senoufo, and Turka ethnic groups whereas Macrotermes subhyalinus was preferred by Fulani, Mossi, and Toussian ethnic groups. Oryctes sp. was cited only by the Toussian.ConclusionA diversity of edible insects was consumed in both the South and North Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso with significant differences in species preferences according to phytogeographical zones, villages, ethnic groups, and gender.

Edible insects constitute a potential source of alternative proteins as a food supplement. The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, energy and nutritional values, the digestibility and functional properties of Carbula marginella (Thunberg) and Cirina butyrospermi (Vuillet) defatted flour, protein concentrates, and isolates. Carbula marginella has shown the highest content of protein (41.44%), lipid (51.92%), calcium (33.92 mg/100 g) and sodium (185.84 mg/100 g) while the highest contents of carbohydrate (34.54%), ash (4.77%), iron (31.27 mg/100 g), magnesium (150.09 mg/100 g), and potassium (1277 mg/100 g) have been observed for C. butyrospermi. Linoleic (30.23%), palmitic (27.54%), oleic (26.41%) and stearic (8.90%) acids were the most dominant fatty acids found in C. marginella. Cirina butyrospermi was characterized by high levels of oleic (27.01%), stearic (21.02%), linolenic (20.42%), palmitic (13.06%), and linoleic (8.01%) acids. Protein and essential amino acid contents of the protein isolates in both insect species were 1.7–2 times higher than that of their defatted flours. The protein isolate of C. marginella exhibited the highest protein digestibility (87.63%), while the highest fat absorption capacity (8.84 g/g) and foaming capacity (48.40%) have been obtained from the protein isolate of C. butyrospermi. These findings indicate that the protein concentrates and isolates of C. marginella and C. butyrospermi have great potential for industrial applications.

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Combretum collinum, Combretum micranthum, Combretum nigricans, and Combretum niorense are abundant unconventional seed oils of the African savannah. In this study, the proximate, mineral, amino acid, fatty acid, and triacylglycerol compositions of the four seed oils were quantified, and the oxidative and physicochemical properties were investigated. The amino acid, fatty acid, and triacylglycerol compositions were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography respectively. Carbohydrates (57.35%–64.20%) followed by crude oils (20.07%–22.60%), proteins (11.95%–15.86%), and ashes (3.78%–6.19%) were the main constituents of the four seed species. The highest ash, crude fat, and protein contents were found in C. collinum, C. nigricans, and C. niorense, respectively. All four seed species were rich in Ca, K and Mg, and poor in methionine, cysteine, and lysine. The four seed oils had high saponification values (198.46–202.71 mgKOH/g), low acidity (1.12–2.26 mg of KOH/g of oil), and peroxide values (1.19–1.98 mEqO2/kg of oil). The seed oils of C. micranthum and C. collinum exhibited the highest thermal oxidative stability (8.10 and 9.79 h at 160°C). Oleic (40.49%–56.69%), palmitic (15.17%–24.27%) and linoleic (9.49%–14.50%) acids were the predominant fatty acids of the four seed oils. The results showed that the four seed species and seed oils had good chemical composition and physicochemical properties making them suitable for food and non‐food application.

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