An Insect Bad for Agriculture but Good for Human Consumption: The Case of<i>Rhynchophorus palmarum</i>: A Social Science Perspective

Cartay, Rafael; Dimitrov, Vladimir; Feldman, Michaël

doi:10.5772/intechopen.87165

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In South America, the larvae of the palm weevil Rhynchophors palmarum L., known as “suri”, are a traditional food source for indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest. They are often eaten raw or roasted and are sometimes used in traditional medicines as well [ 76 ].…”

Section: Examples Of Insect Consumption In Non-western Countries Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Insects: A Historical and Cultural Perspective on Entomophagy with a Focus on Western Societies

Olivadese

Dindo

2023

Insects

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The relationship between insects and humans throughout history has always been complex and multifaceted. Insects are both a source of fascination and fear for humans and have played important roles in human culture, economy, and health. Nowadays, there is growing interest in using insects as a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of protein and other nutrients. Entomophagy can be seen as a new opportunity for the food industry and global food security. In fact, insects require far fewer resources than traditional livestock, and there are many references to insect consumption in human history. The ancient Romans are known to have eaten various insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and locusts. Insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and ants have been eaten for centuries and are still considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Entomophagy has, thus, been a part of human history for thousands of years and continues to be an important food habit for many people around the world. These topics are explored in this article from a historical and cultural perspective (e.g., ecological, nutritional, spiritual, and socio-psychological), with a focus on the progressive acceptance of edible insects in Western societies, since this novel food has also its roots in the Western world.

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Section: Examples Of Insect Consumption In Non-western Countries Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Insects: A Historical and Cultural Perspective on Entomophagy with a Focus on Western Societies

Olivadese

Dindo

2023

Insects

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“…Los insectos de mayor consumo a nivel mundial se encuentran dentro de los órdenes Hymenoptera (hormigas), Orthoptera (chapulines) y Coleoptera (escarabajos). Es en China, así como países africanos y del continente americano, en donde existe mayor consumo (Cartay, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Insectos Comestibles Más Comunesunclassified

Identidades indígenas en perspectivas multidisciplinarias

2023

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“…The use of Mbuku, the name given to the beetle Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in its larval stage is part of the Guarani-Kaiowá TK, whether in its sacred tales, in its rituals or for food and medicinal purposes. The oil extracted from the integument of R. palmarum larvae is used by other peoples of South America in food and as a treatment for respiratory diseases and skin infections [6][7][8][9]. While the use of animal fat in the treatment of diseases by indigenous people is part of TK, the literature describes the antioxidant properties of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids that compose the triglycerides of animals and attributes these compounds to the ability to neutralize oxidative damage [10], both after topical use and oral ingestion [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous knowledge and pharmacological activities

et al. 2021

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Zootherapy is a traditional secular practice among the Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous ethnic group living in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. My people use the oil extracted from larvae of the snout beetle Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) to treat and heal skin wounds and respiratory diseases. Based on this ethnopharmacological knowledge, the chemical composition and antioxidant, antimicrobial, and healing properties of R. palmarum larvae oil (RPLO) were investigated, as well as possible toxic effects, through in vitro and in vivo assays. The chemical composition of the RPLO was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of RPLO was investigated through the direct 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. The healing properties of RPLO were investigated by performing a cell migration assay using human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), and the toxicity was analyzed, in vivo, using a Caenorhabditis elegans model and MRC-5 cells, in vitro. RPLO contains 52.2% saturated fatty acids and 47.4% unsaturated fatty acids, with palmitic acid (42.7%) and oleic acid (40%) representing its major components, respectively. RPLO possesses direct antioxidant activity, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 46.15 mg.ml-1. The antimicrobial activity of RPLO was not observed at a concentration of 1% (v/v). RPLO did not alter the viability of MRC-5 cells and did not exert toxic effects on C. elegans. Furthermore, MRC-5 cells incubated with 0.5% RPLO showed a higher rate of cell migration than that of the control group, supporting its healing properties. Taken together, RPLO possesses direct antioxidant activity and the potential to aid in the healing process and is not toxic toward in vitro and in vivo models, corroborating the safe use of the oil in traditional Guarani-Kaiowá medicine.

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An Insect Bad for Agriculture but Good for Human Consumption: The Case ofRhynchophorus palmarum: A Social Science Perspective

Cited by 8 publications

References 26 publications

Edible Insects: A Historical and Cultural Perspective on Entomophagy with a Focus on Western Societies

Edible Insects: A Historical and Cultural Perspective on Entomophagy with a Focus on Western Societies

Identidades indígenas en perspectivas multidisciplinarias

Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous knowledge and pharmacological activities

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