Determination of fatty acid content in some edible insects of Mexico

Abstract

In the present paper we have determined the fatty acid content of some edible insects of Mexico. A comparative analysis of the insect species studied in this research showed that caproic acid was present in a minimal proportion which ranged between 0.01 for Periplaneta americana (nymphs) and 0.06 (g/100 g, dry basis) for Euschistus strenuus. The highest proportion of caprilic acid (0.09) was found in Tenebrio molitor (adults). Atta sp. had the highest amount of capric acid (0.26). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in lauric acid (0.77) and for myristic acid it had the highest content (5.64). Dactylopius sp. and E. strenuus were rich in palmitic acid (14.89). Euschistus taxcoensis had the highest quantity of palmitoleic acid (12.06). Llaveia axin exhibited the highest quantity of stearic acid (22.75). Polistes sp. was found to be rich in oleic acid (38.28). The highest quantity of linoleic acid was observed in T. molitor (larvae) (10.89), and in L. axin the highest content of linolenic acid (7.82) was obtained. A comparison between the species under the present investigation revealed that, in general, the insects are poor in caproic, caprilic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitoleic and linolenic acids, because the quantities were either minimal or could not be detected at all. They had moderate quantities of stearic, palmitic and linoleic acids and had high quantities of oleic acid. Finally it was concluded that although a particular insect species is unable to fulfil the total fatty acid need for a human, if consumed in combination they could definitely be able to supply a good amount of this highly valued nutrient.

The fatty acid composition of edible grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) feeding on diversifying diets of host plants

“…This apparent lack of odd numbered fatty acids could be due to the fact that these fatty acids usually occur in trace proportions (Kinyuru et al 2010). Palmitic and oleic acids were the most predominant fatty acids as also found in several previous studies in R. differens (Fombong et al 2017;Kinyuru et al 2010) and in other insect species (e.g., Nevin 1988;Pino Moreno & Ganguly 2015). This could be explained by the insects de novo system that synthesizes certain fatty acids such as palmitic acid from other sources (e.g., carbohydrates and proteins, Stanley-Samuelson et al 1988).…”

“…; Kinyuru et al . ) and in other insect species (e.g., Nevin ; Pino Moreno & Ganguly ). This could be explained by the insects de novo system that synthesizes certain fatty acids such as palmitic acid from other sources (e.g., carbohydrates and proteins, Stanley‐Samuelson et al .…”

Fatty acid content and composition in edible Ruspolia differens feeding on mixtures of natural food plants

“…Possibly the diet offered to R. differens in [ 4 ] was richer in SFA and MUFA compared to our grass inflorescences. When compared with insects analysed in [ 15 ], our samples had relatively low fatty acid content.…”

Preparation of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Chitosan Film from Periplaneta americana

“…Attracted to these characteristics, people in China have reared P. americana in large scale for researches and commercial applications. For now, various substances—including protein, fatty acid, antimicrobial peptide, chitin, and chitosan—have been separated from P. americana so that they could be studied and applied separately [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”