Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) or quinoa husk in the diet of Tenebrio molitor: Productive parameters, larvae composition, saponins bioaccumulation and bioactivity

Cantero-Bahillo, Emma; Cunha-Borges, Virginia da; Martín, Diana; Agencia Estatal de Investigación; Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; European Commission

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) or quinoa husk in the diet of Tenebrio molitor: Productive parameters, larvae composition, saponins bioaccumulation and bioactivity

2025

This study evaluated the inclusion of quinoa (10 %, 30 %) and its by-product quinoa husk (10 %, 15 %) in the diet of Tenebrio molitor larvae, focusing on their impact on growth, macronutrients content, fatty acid profile, oxidative stability, bioaccumulation of saponins and bioactivities (antioxidant activity and pancreatic lipase inhibition). All diets favoured larval growth with low mortality, especially quinoa at 10 %. Protein and lipid content remained stable, while quinoa increased MUFAs and decreased PUFAs, whereas the opposite effect was caused by quinoa husk. Diets did not affect peroxide values but influenced the oxidative stability of lipids. Larvae bioaccumulated saponins, especially with the highest inclusion of quinoa (70 mg saponins/100 g fresh larvae). Regardless of the diet, larvae exhibited pancreatic lipase inhibition and antioxidant activity, although the latter was slightly worsened with the highest inclusions. Overall, quinoa and its by-product quinoa husk show potential as feed ingredients for producing high added-value insect-based products.

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This research is part of the ENTOMOTIVE project PID2022-136238OB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/ and by ERDF/EU and the grant PREP2022–000828 founded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF+.

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Peer reviewed

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