Derivatization of Chitin and Chitosan from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) and Their Use as Feed Additives: An In vitro Study

Abstract

B lack soldier fly larvae (BSF, Hermetia illucens) has been recently considered as a promising protein source for animal feed, both for monogastrics (Cullere et al., 2016) and ruminants (Jayanegara et al., 2017a). It is characterized by its high protein content as well as good amino acid profiles (Sanchez-Muros et al., 2014). Protein itself plays an important role in the body of livestock; it serves as building blocks for various tissues and organs, and involves in the regulatory function as an integral component of various enzymes and hormones. Our previous study demonstrated that BSF contained protein in its body of more than 40% on dry matter basis (Jayanegara et al., 2017a). Other studies reported that the crude protein content of BSF ranged from 38.3 to 58.8% (Marono et al., 2015; Oonincx et al., 2015; Spranghers et al., 2017). Apart from its high protein content, BSF has other additional advantages in which it grows rapidly on various organic substrates (Spranghers et al., 2017), and does not provide any adverse effect on environment and human health. Despite all of its potency, BSF contains considerable amount of chitin that may limit its use as animal feed. Chitin is a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine and typically present in substantial amount in insects. It had been reported that chitin content of BSF ranged from 8.7 to 9.6% (Diener et al., 2009; Kroeckel et al., 2012). Chitin is insol

Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as a protein supplement for beef steers consuming low-quality forage

“…In our study, BSFL and CONV did not affect OMD relative to CON, in line with other research in which forage with a similar CP content to ours (6.6% DM) was fed as the basal diet and supplementation of 100 mg N/kg BW of protein as defatted algae or cottonseed meal did not affect OMD relative to no supplementation ( Drewery et al, 2021 ). In previous research ( Jayanegara et al, 2017 ; Jayanegara et al, 2020 ), when BSFL or chitin derived from BSFL was incubated with grasses and forages in an in vitro ruminal fermentation system, DMD and OMD were depressed, a consequence the authors attributed to the ether extract and/or chitin content of BSFL ( Jayanegara et al, 2017 ). Although BSFL did not stimulate digestion in the current study, it also did not depress it, in conflict with this previous in vitro work.…”

“…Previous research demonstrates that BSFL can be fed to poultry, swine, and fish as a replacement for conventional protein feeds ( Newton et al, 1977 ; Bondari & Sheppard, 1980 ; Al-Qazzaz et al, 2016 ; Driemeyer, 2016 ; Cockcroft, 2018 ). Although preliminary in vitro work has evaluated the digestibility of BSFL for cattle ( Jayanegara et al, 2017 ; Jayanegara et al, 2020 ), an in vivo feeding trial has not yet been conducted, to the best of our knowledge.…”

Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat?

“…However, the removed chitin can provide an advantage when used in a low concentration as a feed additive, as the substance has antimicrobial properties against a wide range of microbial species. Its biological activity can be further enhanced by converting it into chitosan in a deacetylation procedure [ 87 ]. About half of the crude fiber analyte may be chitin, but the N-acetylglucosamine polymer contributes little to the crude protein value.…”

Chitosan microcapsules: Methods of the production and use in the textile finishing

“…1 CH, fully or partially deacetylated form of chitin deriving of organisms such as fungi, crustaceans and wasp (Black Soldier Fly-Hermetia illucens), has the advantages of to be a nontoxic, rich and wide variety of sources, low cost, easy film formation, good biocompatibility, and enzymatically biodegradable. [2][3][4] In addition, many studies seek to improve its solubility and antimicrobial capacity (quaternization and carboxylation) through changes in the structure and addition of compounds to it, maintaining its original biodegradability and biosafety, causing the amount of research to only increase.…”