INFORM September 2024

22 • inform September 2024, Vol. 35 (8)

alent species include the giant mealworm ( Zophobas morio ) and the lesser mealworm. The oil content of mealworm ranges from 28.5% to 40.5% on dry weight basis. Lipid is prevalent in the larvae, with the lipid content during the larval stage of the mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ) varying between 9.5% and 20.3% dry weight basis. Explored applications for mealworm oil in food systems include its utilization in margarine inclusion as an ingredient in bakery goods, and its potential as a frying oil. Mealworm oil predominantly consists of unsaturated fatty acids, with a combined contribution of nearly 65% from oleic and linoleic acids of the overall fatty acid profile. This obser vation deviates from the norm observed in animal-based fats, which typically has significantly lower levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the distinctive feature of mealworm oil lies in its notable ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids ratio that ranges from 24.4 to 51.6, a trait commonly associated with vegetable oils. Consequently, the cholesterol content in mealworm oil, 651.2 mg/kg, is notably lower compared to lard, which con tains 1628.3 mg/kg oil. Mealworm oil contains approximately 18.9%–26.0% of PUFAs. Presently, there is a scarcity of com prehensive data regarding the nutritional attributes of pupal oil. Nevertheless, pupal oil contains significant levels of oleic and stearic acids, even though its fat content is comparable to that of mealworm oil. While large-scale production of mealworm oil is currently not cost-effective when compared to traditional lipid sources, ongoing research and efforts within the industry are enhanc ing the overall production methods to meet the increas ing demand for alternative and sustainable lipid sources. Utilization of food loss and waste as substitutes for commer cial feed in mealworm cultivation has the potential to increase both the economic and environmental sustainability of the production process. The capacity of mealworms to transform less-valuable materials into a diverse range of products appli cable across various sectors renders them highly important for realizing the zero-waste objective and completing the food value chain loop within the framework of a circular economy. A detailed analysis on sustainability and scaling-up of meal worm rearing through utilization of agri-food waste has been reported. RED PALM WEEVIL LARVAL OIL The red palm weevil ( Rhynchophorus ferrugineus ) is classi fied within the order Coleoptera and the family Curculionidae. The life cycle of the red palm weevil involves complete meta morphosis, encompassing four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The durations of the larval, pupal, and adult phases of the red palm weevil range from 1 to 10 months, 2 to 3 weeks, and 1 to 3 months, respectively. These timeframes are influenced by factors such as the quality of the host plant, temperature, and humidity. The larvae of the red palm weevil has high oil content, ranging from 35.2% to 60.1%. Given their substantial lipid con tent, ease of cultivation, and rapid maturation, red palm wee vil larvae have emerged as a promising source of edible insect oil. The predominant fatty acids identified in the larvae of the

red palm weevil include C18:2, C18:1, and C16:0, comprising 79.1 g/100 g of lipids. Other important fatty acids present in the oil extracted from red palm weevil larvae include myristic, stearic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. There were no significant variations observed in the fatty acid profile of the oil obtained from red palm weevil larvae reared across different rearing conditions. Despite differences in rearing methods and feed composition, the overall fatty acid profile remained consistent. Additionally, a good balance between unsaturated fatty acids (~ 53.68% of the total fatty acids) and saturated fatty acids (~ 43.41% of the total fatty acids) as well as a low cholesterol content ranging from 74.61–152.32 mg/kg based on dry matter was observed in all samples. Nevertheless, recent reports suggest that the composi tion of ω-3 and ω-6 in red palm weevil larvae oil is subject to the quantities present in their diet. Specifically, incorporating perilla seeds into the diet substantially augmented the levels of crucial α-linolenic and linoleic acids, resulting in a low ω-6/ω-3 ratio. Conversely, supplementation with pig feed, rice bran, and corn meal increased the concentration of linoleic acid, The silkworm is predominantly recognized as an efficient large scale producer of silk thread for making fabrics. Silkworm pupae is a significant by-product of the silk industry obtained following the extraction of silk threads. It constitutes approx imately 60% of the weight of dry cocoons. The disposal of silkworm pupae poses a significant environmental challenge, given that the decomposition of waste has adverse effects on the environment. Oil derived from different silkworm pupae species has recently been regarded as a viable and beneficial source of edible oil with significant therapeutic potential. Utilizing silk worm pupae as food or feed component has been a longstand ing practice in Asian countries dating back centuries. Silkworm pupae are characterized by substantial amounts of oils ranging from 18.0% to 32.2%. Hu et al. reported 30% oil in silkworm pupae. The total unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) is around 71%. About 51.64% of the USFA composition in pupal oil consists of PUFAs. Importantly, silkworm pupae oil has a high concentra tion of linolenic acid (an ω-3 fatty acid) in the range of 28.0%– 60.4% and low ω-6/ω-3 ratio (0.1–0.3). Silkworm pupal oil has cholesterol content ranging from 586.3–895.6 mg/kg, which is considerably lower than that of mealworm oil (1628.3 mg/kg), but notably higher than that of red palm weevil larval (74.61– 152.32 mg/kg). Consuming a significant amount of oil with these qualities has been correlated with mitigating the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory as well as autoimmune disorders. Extracted oil from silkworm pupae may, therefore, con tribute to lowering certain health risks in humans. Various spe cies of both mulberry and non-mulberry silkworm pupae have been identified as oil-producing organisms. These oils have a wide range of biological activities, including regulation of lipid metabolism and prevention of fatty liver diseases such as obe - leading to a high ω-6/ω-3 ratio. SILKWORM PUPAL OIL