Protein hydrolysates derived from superworm (Zophobas morio): Composition, bioactivity, and techno-functional properties

Alan Carvalho de Sousa Araujo; Andressa Coimbra Pereira; Robson Matheus Marreiro Gomes; Juan Rafael Buitrago Ramirez; Karoline da Silva Noda; Luan Gustavo Santos; Juliana Machado Latorres; Daniela Fernandes Ramos; José María Monserrat; Vilásia Guimarães Martins

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139668

Protein hydrolysates derived from superworm (Zophobas morio): Composition, bioactivity, and techno-functional properties

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 8:295:139668. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139668. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Functional Biochemistry of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Food Technology, School of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, 96203-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aquaculture, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil. Electronic address: alandesousa02@hotmail.com.
² Laboratory of Functional Biochemistry of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aquaculture, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Food Technology, School of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, 96203-900, Brazil.
⁴ Center for the Development of New Drugs (NUDEFA), Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil.
⁵ Laboratory of Functional Biochemistry of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil; Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, 96201-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aquaculture, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil. Electronic address: josemmonserrat@gmail.com.
⁶ Laboratory of Food Technology, School of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, 96203-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Aquaculture, Federal University of Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália, Km 08, Rio Grande, RS 96201-900, Brazil.

PMID: 39793808
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139668

Abstract

This study aimed to produce protein hydrolysates from superworm (Zophobas morio) flour using the enzymes alcalase (HA), protamex (HP), or flavourzyme (HF), and to characterize their nutritional composition, techno-functional properties, bioactive capacity, and bioaccessibility index. The enzymatic process increased the total amino acid and crude protein contents of the hydrolysates by approximately 36 % and 46 %, respectively, generating better foaming capacity, oil retention, and emulsification capacity, when compared to raw flour. Although 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical capture was similar between the hydrolysates, HA (1479,66 μM FeSO₄/g) and HP (1514,66 μM FeSO₄/g) showed greater antimicrobial and iron reducing power (FRAP) activity, while HF has a higher scavenging efficiency for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (27.53 %). The best antimicrobial activity was observed for HA against Vibrio corallilyticus (400 mg/mL), and HP showed a better antioxidant response scavenging for DPPH radical. The antioxidant capacity against ABTS radical after in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion (GID) was as follows: HA (79.07 ± 1.53 %), HP (74.65 ± 5.85 %), and HF (57.95 ± 8.31 %). Therefore, insect flour is a promising ingredient for the production of protein hydrolysates and their application in animal and human feeds.

Keywords: Bioactive capacity; Gastrointestinal in vitro digestion; Insect proteins; Protein hydrolysate.