INFORM September 2024

inform September 2024, Vol. 35 (8) • 23

sity related atherosclerosis, antioxidant properties, vasopro tective potential, antitumor effects, antibacterial capabilities, and anti-ulcerative features. LOCUST OIL Two prominent species of locusts that attract significant research focus are the desert locust ( Schistocerca gregaria ) and migratory locust ( Locusta migratoria ) due to their notable reproductive capabilities. These edible insects belong to the Acrididae family within the Orthoptera order and are found in various regions worldwide, including Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Locusts fat content is approximately 30%, surpassing the average observed in other orthopteran species, which is approx imately 14%. Nevertheless, the quantity of lipids obtained from locusts is contingent on various factors such as dietary intake, geographic location, and species. For example, it has been observed that a diet supplemented with wheat bran may ele vate the fat content of locusts by almost 25%. Similarly, a lower fat percentage was reported in migratory locusts sourced from the Netherland. While the content of tocopherols and carot enoids in locust oil remains relatively unexplored, locust meal has been identified as rich in α-tocopherol (267.5 μg/g) and var ious carotenoid compounds, including β-carotene (5 mg/kg), lutein (2.0 mg/kg), and retinol (0.2 mg/kg). The total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) content of locust oil varies from 33.6% to 41.0%, while the total USFAs content var ies from 59.0% to 66.5%, resulting in a SFAs/USFAs ratio below 1. Locust oil has high levels of USFAs, such as 34% oleic acid, 17% linoleic acid, and 11% α-linolenic acid. Locust oil is rec ognized as a healthy oil because of its relatively high levels of α-linolenic acid. The ratio of ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids range from 0.6% to 2.4%, aligning with established health standards, as it is below the highest acceptable limit of 10:1. Additionally, locust oil has a well-balanced composition of fatty acids, with a ratio of PUFAs/SFAs at 0.7, in proximity of the optimal value of 1. This positions locust oil as a promising and healthful/functional lipid source. However, locust oil has cholesterol content of 1,880,500 mg/kg. The recommended adult daily dietary level of cholesterol is 300 mg. This suggests that even small amounts of locust oil can contribute signifi cantly to daily cholesterol intake. BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE OIL The black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) is a member of the Diptera order and Stratiomyidae family. It is gaining consider able attention globally. This insect species, particularly its lar vae, is capable of efficient decomposition of organic waste, including decomposing fruits and vegetables, as well as utiliz ing materials like decaying organic waste or palm kernel meal as a substrate for oil production during their larval stage. The reproductive capabilities and rapid development of the black soldier fly are remarkable, even when feeding on

low-quality substances like organic waste. Numerous research findings attest to the effectiveness of black soldier fly larvae in transforming organic waste into valuable biomass, comprising of lipids and proteins. This process contributes significantly to reducing the overall burden of global food waste and serving as a sustainable source of proteins and fats thereby enhancing food production. Most significantly, these flies pose no threat of disease transmission to humans, as the adult flies neither bite nor consume food. Black soldier fly larvae oil stands out among various insect-based lipids due to its distinctive composition, primar ily consisting of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) of C8 to C12 of which lauric acid (C12) is the dominant component. These MCFAs contribute to more than 50% of the overall fatty acid composition in black soldier fly larvae oil. The broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects of LA against various bacteria and viruses have been extensively discussed in previous studies. Consequently, incorporating black soldier fly larvae oil as an active component in pharmaceutical formulations, such as healing creams, holds promise for imparting skin protective attributes. Furthermore, the consumption of MCFAs has been associated with positive health outcomes. Specifically, a diet rich in MCFAs has been shown to decrease overall serum cho lesterol levels and elevate high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, contributing to a decreased likelihood of heart disease. Black soldier fly larvae oil has a fatty acid composition comparable to that of palm kernel and coconut fats, which are conventionally recognized as lauric-based fats. In contrast, it significantly differs from other insect-derived lipids. This dis tinction positions black soldier fly larvae lipid as a potential substitute for traditional lauric-based lipids, particularly in diverse food applications such as the formulation of alterna tives to cocoa butter. Black soldier fly larvae lipid also contains a moderate proportion of USFAs, including 9.5%–23.4% oleic and 1.4%–13.0% linoleic acids. The specific composition of these fatty acids is subject to variations based on the feeding diet. Black soldier fly larvae lipid is low in cholesterol con tent (17500–20,500 mg/kg), approximately 10–20 times less than animal fat. Additionally, there is a significant amount of Δ5-avenasterol (122.1 mg/kg), which is similar to the lev els found in certain healthy seed oils like origanum seed oil (170 mg/kg), and sunflower seed oil (170 mg/kg). Studies sug gest that Δ5-avenasterol possesses potent antioxidant prop erties and can prevent polymerization at high temperatures during frying because of the presence of an ethylidene group in its side chain. This article is an excerpt from a review article published in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society titled, “Microbial and insect oils: A sustainable approach to functional lipid.” To read the full review paper, including citations, visit https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12851.