Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity
According to the Sustainable Blue Economy Communication, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the European Green Deal, novel business models supporting the use of resources from oceans and seas are of primary importance. Interestingly, several infesting seaweeds are consumed as foods in Asia and are funda...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/325 |
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| author | Annalaura Brai Edoardo Brogi Franca Tarchi Federica Poggialini Chiara Vagaggini Sauro Simoni Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi |
| author_facet | Annalaura Brai Edoardo Brogi Franca Tarchi Federica Poggialini Chiara Vagaggini Sauro Simoni Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi |
| author_sort | Annalaura Brai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | According to the Sustainable Blue Economy Communication, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the European Green Deal, novel business models supporting the use of resources from oceans and seas are of primary importance. Interestingly, several infesting seaweeds are consumed as foods in Asia and are fundamental ingredients in several traditional dishes. Herein, according to the circular economy approach, we investigate the use of <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> (CL) as a <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae feed in different percentages: 20%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. We analyzed the effects of CL on the survival and biometric parameters of larvae. The survival rate remained comparable to the control, while the mean weight was inversely proportional to the CL%. The nutrient composition was substantially different from the control, showing increased protein and reduced fat content. Analysis of the secondary metabolites revealed a better fatty acid composition, rich in PUFA, with lipid nutritional indexes comparable to seaweeds and crabs. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion highlights the increased content of essential amino acids, and a two times higher antioxidant activity with respect to the control. Taken together, our results confirm that CL can be used as a TML supplement, with beneficial effects in protein content and fat quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-294350f4c1924093ac7c02e8e86d5c5f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-294350f4c1924093ac7c02e8e86d5c5f2025-01-24T13:33:17ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114232510.3390/foods14020325Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant ActivityAnnalaura Brai0Edoardo Brogi1Franca Tarchi2Federica Poggialini3Chiara Vagaggini4Sauro Simoni5Valeria Francardi6Elena Dreassi7Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, ItalyResearch Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, ItalyResearch Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, ItalyResearch Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 53100 Siena, ItalyAccording to the Sustainable Blue Economy Communication, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the European Green Deal, novel business models supporting the use of resources from oceans and seas are of primary importance. Interestingly, several infesting seaweeds are consumed as foods in Asia and are fundamental ingredients in several traditional dishes. Herein, according to the circular economy approach, we investigate the use of <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> (CL) as a <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae feed in different percentages: 20%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. We analyzed the effects of CL on the survival and biometric parameters of larvae. The survival rate remained comparable to the control, while the mean weight was inversely proportional to the CL%. The nutrient composition was substantially different from the control, showing increased protein and reduced fat content. Analysis of the secondary metabolites revealed a better fatty acid composition, rich in PUFA, with lipid nutritional indexes comparable to seaweeds and crabs. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion highlights the increased content of essential amino acids, and a two times higher antioxidant activity with respect to the control. Taken together, our results confirm that CL can be used as a TML supplement, with beneficial effects in protein content and fat quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/325edible insects<i>Tenebrio molitor</i>waste reductioninfesting seaweedscircular economyproteins |
| spellingShingle | Annalaura Brai Edoardo Brogi Franca Tarchi Federica Poggialini Chiara Vagaggini Sauro Simoni Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity Foods edible insects <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> waste reduction infesting seaweeds circular economy proteins |
| title | Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity |
| title_full | Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity |
| title_fullStr | Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity |
| title_short | Exploitation of the Nutraceutical Potential of the Infesting Seaweed <i>Chaetomorpha linum</i> as a Yellow Mealworms’ Feed: Focus on Nutrients and Antioxidant Activity |
| title_sort | exploitation of the nutraceutical potential of the infesting seaweed i chaetomorpha linum i as a yellow mealworms feed focus on nutrients and antioxidant activity |
| topic | edible insects <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> waste reduction infesting seaweeds circular economy proteins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/325 |
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