Microbiological Profile and Bioactive Properties of Insect Powders Used in Food and Feed Formulations
Concetta Maria Messina,
Raimondo Gaglio,
Maria Morghese,
Marco Tolone,
Rosaria Arena,
Giancarlo Moschetti,
Andrea Santulli,
Nicola Francesca,
Luca Settanni
Affiliations
Concetta Maria Messina
Laboratory of Marine biochemistry and ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Science DISTEM, University of Palermo, Via G. Barlotta 4, 91100 Trapani, Italy
Raimondo Gaglio
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Maria Morghese
Laboratory of Marine biochemistry and ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Science DISTEM, University of Palermo, Via G. Barlotta 4, 91100 Trapani, Italy
Marco Tolone
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Rosaria Arena
Laboratory of Marine biochemistry and ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Science DISTEM, University of Palermo, Via G. Barlotta 4, 91100 Trapani, Italy
Giancarlo Moschetti
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Andrea Santulli
Laboratory of Marine biochemistry and ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Science DISTEM, University of Palermo, Via G. Barlotta 4, 91100 Trapani, Italy
Nicola Francesca
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Luca Settanni
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Microbiological, nutritional and bioactive properties of edible powders obtained from Acheta domesticus (house cricket) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) were investigated. Except for the enterobacteria, viable bacteria were at a higher concentration in mealworm flour. The diversity evaluation carried out using MiSeq Illumina that mainly identified Citrobacter and Enterobacteriaceae in mealworm powder and members of the Porphyromonadaceae family in house cricket powder. Enterococci were identified and characterized for their safety characteristics in terms of the absence of antibiotic resistance and virulence. Both powders represent a good source of proteins and lipids. The fatty acid profile of mealworm powder was characterized by the predominance of the monounsaturated fatty acids and house cricket powder by saturated fatty acids. The enzymatic hydrolysis produced the best results in terms of percentage of degree of hydrolysis with the enzyme Alcalase, and these data were confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. Furthermore, the results showed that the protein hydrolysate of these powders produces a significant antioxidant power.
