Production of chitin‐ and chitosan‐oligosaccharide using the edible insect, Tenebrio molitor

Abstract

Edible insects are not only good food ingredients for people, but also open the possibility of functional food and pharmaceutical raw materials. This study investigated the production of chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide using edible insect, Tenebrio molitor (Tm). Chitin of Tm larvae was prepared using demineralization (2 N HCl, room temp., 3 h), deproteinization [5% NaOH (w/w) for 3.5 h at 70°C], and decolorization (3% H2O2 for 1.5 h at 80°C). Chitosan of Tm larvae was prepared by Tm chitin deacetylation at 50% NaOH (w/w) for 5 h at 105°C. The chitin of Tm yielded 50% chitosan, and the final extraction yield of chitin and chitosan from dried Tm larvae was 6.82% and 3.75%, respectively. Chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide of Tm larvae were prepared via acid hydrolysis using 5.0 g of both Tm chitin and Tm chitosan. Finally, 2.12 g chitin‐oligosaccharide of Tm larvae was obtained through acid hydrolysis (con. HCl 100 mL for 4 h at 40°C). Chitosan‐oligosaccharide (2.5 g) of Tm larvae was produced via acid hydrolysis (con. HCl 50 mL for 1 h at 81°C) and purification. These results indicate that the industrial applicability of Tm chitin‐oligosaccharide and chitosan‐oligosaccharide is viable in the field of health supplements, as a large amount of these oligosaccharides can be obtained from edible insect, Tm larvae.

Acheta domesticus (house cricket) as human foods ‐ An approval of the European Commission ‐ A systematic review

“…Fibers in insects are predominantly present in the form of chitin found in their exoskeletons. Chitin, as a polysaccharide is not digestible by humans and has no nutritional value, but it has other potential health benefits, such as aiding in digestion and supporting the immune system (Song et al., 2022). The chitin content in selected insects decreases in the following order: G. bimaculatus , A. domesticus , T. molitor , L. migratoria , and G. sigillatus (ranging from 3.40 to 9.77 g/100 g dry weight).…”

“…In addition, some bioactive compounds of insects also exhibit the potential to similarly benefit the consumer's health showing antioxidant, antidiabetic/hypoglycemic, antiobesity, antiatherosclerotic and antilipemic/hypolipidemic, antihypertensive, gut microbiota regulation, immunological, antibacterial, and antithrombotic functions (Pyo et al., 2020; Mendoza‐Salazar et al., 2021; Nino et al., 2021a; Siddiqui et al., 2023). The bioactive substances in insects include proteins/peptides, terpenoids, polyphenols, glycosides, antioxidants, sulfur compounds, chitin/chitosan, and others (Chantawannakul, 2020; Nino et al., 2021b; Song et al., 2022). Studies have demonstrated that the bioactivity and health benefits for human of T. molitor , G. bimaculatus , and G. sigillatus have been well illustrated and investigated (Pyo et al., 2020; Dong et al., 2021; Ordoñez‐Araque & Egas‐Montenegro, 2021; Hierro et al., 2022; Kemsawasd et al., 2022).…”

“…Antibacterial and antifungal effect is another important property of insects, which might be related to the chitin and GAG components (Song et al., 2022). The specific antimicrobial mechanisms encompass various aspects, such as altering bacterial membrane permeabilization, suppressing mRNA and protein expression, chelating essential metals and nutrients, and obstructing nutrient entry and oxygen access.…”