THE COMPOSITION, VOLATILE COMPOUNDS, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF THE EDIBLE INSECT TENEBRIO MOLITOR FED WITH CYANOBACTERIAL SPIRULINA PLATENSIS BIOMASS UNDER DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE TREATMENT

Abstract

This is a first attempt to examine the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the edible insect Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm beetle), which was fed Spirulina platensis. subjected to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment (at 10 minutes during 3, 7, 14, and 30 days). In total, seven groups of larvae were used: larvae not fed with S. platensis, larvae fed with 5, 10, and 20% non- DBD -infused S. platensis, and larvae fed with 5, 10, and 20% DBD -infused S. platensis. The results of the nutritional composition showed that the percentage of protein, fat, ash, fiber, and carbohydrates in a 20% concentration of S. platensis under DBD treatment increased by 1.30, 1.28, 1.28, 1.67, 1.27, and 1.93 times (p ≤ 0.05). The antioxidant activity by the DPPH method also showed that the highest value belonged to the treatment with 20% DBD, which was 1.18 times the control (p ≤ 0.05). Results of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione Peroxidase showed that the highest levels of these enzymes belonged to the treatment with 20% DBD, which was 1.6, 1.26, and 2.019 times the control, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the results of the antibacterial analysis indicated a significant increase. The results of the analysis of volatile compounds showed the highest abundance belonged to palmitic acid, while the lowest value belonged to compounds of oleic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, and stearic acid. The overall results showed that the combination of DBD and cyanobacteria presents a promising technology for enhancing food properties in the food industry.