Earthworms: A Source of Protein

Ding, Siyun; Lin, Xiting; He, Sanger

doi:10.17265/2159-5828/2019.05.001

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The total protein content found in the present study of E. andrei was lower than that reported for other earthworm species, such as D. veneta (76.82% DW) [13], Hyperiodrilus euryaulos (63.0% DW) [37], and L. terresstris (64.0% DW) [38]. The relatively high levels of protein reported for Honingka worms (86.94% DW) from a previous study [11] are thought to be due to a large amount of sediment deposited in the Honingka worm habitat.…”

Section: Proximate Analysis Of Eapcontrasting

confidence: 89%

“…In other studies by Rodrigues et al [19], a higher protein content (70.9%) was obtained when compared with that found in the present study. The nutritional content of the worms may vary depending on the diet, ecology, geographic location, and harvest location, and the processing methods (e.g., mechanical and thermal processing techniques) may affect the nutrient content of the material [38].…”

Section: Proximate Analysis Of Eapmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Earth Worming—An Evaluation of Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) as an Alternative Food Source

Kavle

Nolan

Carne

et al. 2023

Foods

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Aside from their bioremediation roles, little is known about the food and feed value of earthworms. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional composition (proximate analysis and profiles of fatty acids and minerals) and techno-functional properties (foaming and emulsion stability and capacity) of earthworm (Eisenia andrei, sourced in New Zealand) powder (EAP) were investigated. Lipid nutritional indices, ω6/ω3, atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic acid ratio, and health-promoting index of EAP lipids are also reported. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents of EAP were found to be 53.75%, 19.30%, and 23.26% DW, respectively. The mineral profile obtained for the EAP consisted of 11 essential minerals, 23 non-essential minerals, and 4 heavy metals. The most abundant essential minerals were potassium (8220 mg·kg−1 DW), phosphorus (8220 mg·kg−1 DW), magnesium (744.7 mg·kg−1 DW), calcium (2396.7 mg·kg−1 DW), iron (244.7 mg·kg−1 DW), and manganese (25.6 mg·kg−1 DW). Toxic metals such as vanadium (0.2 mg·kg−1 DW), lead (0.2 mg·kg−1 DW), cadmium (2.2 mg·kg−1 DW), and arsenic (2.3 mg·kg−1 DW) were found in EAP, which pose safety considerations. Lauric acid (20.3% FA), myristoleic acid (11.20% FA), and linoleic acid (7.96% FA) were the most abundant saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. The lipid nutritional indices, such as IT and ω-6/ω-3, of E. andrei were within limits considered to enhance human health. A protein extract derived from EAP (EAPPE), obtained by alkaline solubilisation and pH precipitation, exhibited an isoelectric pH of ~5. The total essential amino acid content and essential amino acid index of EAPPE were 373.3 mg·g−1 and 1.36 mg·g−1 protein, respectively. Techno-functional analysis of EAPPE indicated a high foaming capacity (83.3%) and emulsion stability (88.8% after 60 min). Heat coagulation of EAPPE was greater at pH 7.0 (12.6%) compared with pH 5.0 (4.83%), corroborating the pH-solubility profile and relatively high surface hydrophobicity (1061.0). These findings demonstrate the potential of EAP and EAPPE as nutrient-rich and functional ingredients suitable as alternative food and feed material. The presence of heavy metals, however, should be carefully considered.

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Section: Proximate Analysis Of Eapcontrasting

confidence: 89%

Section: Proximate Analysis Of Eapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth Worming—An Evaluation of Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) as an Alternative Food Source

Kavle

Nolan

Carne

et al. 2023

Foods

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“…Multiple studies on novel medications and the efficacy of traditional medical practices have been published recently. The current study provides various types of disease treatment evidence for the conventional usage of protein derived from earthworm extract [19]. As a result, the extracts' ability to serve as antioxidants and as hepatoprotection against CCl4 liver-damaging effects were evaluated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural hepatoprotectives earthworm extract protein & goat milk in-vitro model rat primary hepatocytes exposed to carbon tetrachloride revealed toxicity and oxidative stress

KARMAKAR,

MANDAL,

BHOWMIK

et al. 2024

jrp

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The assessment of bioactive ingredients with potential hepatoprotective properties focuses primarily on in-vitro bioassays. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of pre-treating primary hepatocyte cells with hepatoprotective earthworm extract to prevent damage from carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Cell viability, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lipid peroxidation or malondialdehyde (MDA) levels activities, as well as hepatoprotective activity of Earthworm extract protein powder (EEP) different concentration were 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml, Goat milk powder (GP) and Silymarin (SLM 100 ug/ml), and CCl4 were assessed in-vitro assay on the laboratory model rat primary hepatocyte culture. The selection of the CCl4 minimum lethal dosage might occasionally make examining liver damage more time consuming. Therefore, we examine CCl4 effectiveness at low to high doses in primary rat hepatocytes. Using primary hepatocyte as a toxicity model, we explored the cellular toxicity and oxidative stress related to CCl4 exposure. Our findings imply that the CCl4-induced cytotoxicity is fundamentally influenced by oxidative stress. The MTT assay results exhibited that CCl4 lower to higher doses decreased the viability of primary hepatocytes within six hours of treatment and hepatoprotective activity of EEP was identified. The lipid peroxidation assay revealed that MDA levels were inhibited by EEP and GP treatment in primary hepatocytes. Our results also showed EEP and GP treatment significantly inhibited AST, ALT, inflammatory marker Tnf-α and MDA level increase due to inducing CCl4 in in-vitro rat primary hepatocytes. According to the studies, EEP and GP function as an efficient hepatoprotective agent and prevent CCl4 treatment-induced primary hepatocyte toxicity.

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“…Considering the three dry matter content values, a mean of 17% suggests there are 900 million tonnes of earthworm dry matter available globally. The nutritional value of earthworms is described for earthworm meal with dry matter crude protein content in the range of 53.8% to 72.9% [11,12,23,30] depending on the species and the method of preparing earthworms for consumption. Taking the mean from several nutritional values for whole earthworm dry matter of 60.7% estimates the global earthworm nutritional protein resource is 540 million tonnes.…”

Section: Estimating the Global Biomass And Nutritional Potential Of E...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can foraging for earthworms significantly reduce global famine in a catastrophe?

Miller,

Mulhall,

Pfau

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Earthworms are a resilient group of species that thrive in a variety of habitats through feeding on decaying organic matter, and are therefore predicted to survive an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario, such as a nuclear winter. In this study, the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of foraging earthworms to reduce global famine following a reduction in sunlight with or without global catastrophic loss of infrastructure was considered. Methods for extracting worms were analysed, along with scalability, climate-related barriers to foraging, and pre-consumption processing requirements. Estimations of the global earthworm resource suggest it could provide three years of the protein needs of the current world population, at a median cost of 353 USD·kg−1 dry carbohydrate equivalent or a mean cost of 1200 (90% confidence interval: 32–8500) USD·kg−1 dry carbohydrate equivalent. This is more expensive than other resilient food options and, moreover, earthworms may bioaccumulate heavy metals and other contaminants, presenting a health risk. While costs appear high, there are a number of uncertainties that remain to be addressed. In particular, earthworm biomass distribution may be higher in specific locations. Real-world news reports of earthworm foraging in China and Vietnam detail high yields, suggesting a targeted approach to foraging in the most abundant regions could provide a more feasible application of earthworms as a resilient food source.

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Earthworms: A Source of Protein

Cited by 8 publications

References 38 publications

Earth Worming—An Evaluation of Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) as an Alternative Food Source

Earth Worming—An Evaluation of Earthworm (Eisenia andrei) as an Alternative Food Source

Natural hepatoprotectives earthworm extract protein & goat milk in-vitro model rat primary hepatocytes exposed to carbon tetrachloride revealed toxicity and oxidative stress

Can foraging for earthworms significantly reduce global famine in a catastrophe?

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