Antioxidative Properties of Melanins and Ommochromes from Black Soldier Fly Hermetia illucens

Abstract

A comparative study of melanin and ommochrome-containing samples, isolated from the black soldier fly (BSF) by enzymatic hydrolysis, alkaline and acid alcohol extraction or by acid hydrolysis, was carried out. Melanin was isolated both as a melanin-chitin complex and as a water-soluble melanin. Acid hydrolysis followed by delipidization yielded a more concentrated melanin sample, the electron spin resonance (ESR) signal of which was 2.6 × 1018 spin/g. The ommochromes were extracted from the BSF eyes with acid methanol. The antiradical activity of BSF melanins and ommochromes was determined by the method of quenching of luminol chemiluminescence. It has been shown that delipidization of water-soluble melanin increases its antioxidant properties. A comparison of the antioxidant activity of BSF melanins and ommochromes in relation to photoinduced lipid peroxidation was carried out. The ESR characteristics of native and oxidized melanins and ommochromes were studied. It is assumed that H. illucens adult flies can be a useful source of natural pigments with antioxidant properties.

Impact of drying methods on the physicochemical properties and nutritional composition of defatted black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) pre‐pupae flour

“…It was also noted that the yellowness ( b *) of FD BSFP flour was higher than SD BSFP flour. Thus, the result indicates the presence of high amount of melanin pigments which exhibit yellowness in FD BSFP flour (Ushakova et al., 2019). However, the decreased L * value of SD BSFP flour leads to the slightly darker in color, which may be due to denaturation of thermal unstable protein and Millard browning.…”

Antimicrobial Peptides from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) as Potential Antimicrobial Factors Representing an Alternative to Antibiotics in Livestock Farming

“…The value of insects in medicinal applications is still being explored; for example, BSF larvae before the prepupal stage can be exploited as a high-quality source of protein and oil and a high-content source of chitin, AMPs, and melanin [44,45]. Proteins have been used in the production of aquaculture and poultry feeds because of their high digestibility.…”

Bioactive Compounds from Hermetia Illucens Larvae as Natural Ingredients for Cosmetic Application

“…In addition, AMPs have been found to have potential as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents and promote keratinocyte proliferation [47], and the antioxidant activity in relation to photoinduced lipid peroxidation of melanin and ommochromes isolated from H. illucens was determined [50]. However, it is important to stress that a high production of AMPs by the larvae is caused by a pre-infection with pathogenic organisms (to induce the immune response) or through substrates offered for feeding with a high pathogenic load.…”