Comparison of the nutritional value of mysore thorn borer (Anoplophora chinensis) and mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor): Amino acid, fatty acid, and element profiles

Ricardo A Wu; Qingzhi Ding; Litao Yin; Xiuwei Chi; Nianzhen Sun; Ronghai He; Lin Luo; Haile Ma; Zhikun Li

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126818

Comparison of the nutritional value of mysore thorn borer (Anoplophora chinensis) and mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor): Amino acid, fatty acid, and element profiles

Food Chem. 2020 Apr 15:323:126818. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126818. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ricardo A Wu¹, Qingzhi Ding¹, Litao Yin², Xiuwei Chi², Nianzhen Sun¹, Ronghai He³, Lin Luo¹, Haile Ma¹, Zhikun Li¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, China; Institute of Food Physical Processing, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, China.
² School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, China.
³ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, China; Institute of Food Physical Processing, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, China. Electronic address: heronghai@163.com.

PMID: 32330649
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.126818

Abstract

There is increasing interest in using insects as an alternative nutrient source and Mysore thorn borer (MTB) (Anoplophora chinensis) might have nutritional and functional relevance for humans. The nutritional composition of MTB (amino acids, fatty acids, and elements profiles) was examined and compared with mealworm larva (MWL) (Tenebrio molitor). MTB was found to contain 19 amino acids, including all essential amino acids. A total of 16 fatty acids were detected including polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid). Moreover, MTB had a low n - 6/n - 3 ratio and contained some essential elements, such as iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These results demonstrated that MTB might be a potential source of nutritional compounds for human consumption.

Keywords: Edible insect; Functional components; Mealworm larva; Mysore thorn borer; Nutritional value.