Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan from Two Commonly Reared Edible Cricket Species, and Its Application as a Hypolipidemic and Antimicrobial Agent

Insect-derived chitin and chitosan have gained interest as alternative sources to that derived from crustaceans; however, little information is available on the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) tropical banded (Gryllodes sigillatus), two species commonly reared in United States for human consumption. In this study, was successfully isolated purified these species; using FTIR, chitins were found be alpha-crystalline form. Cricket produced both with varying degrees of deacetylation (DDA) by alkaline conversion duration. G. sigillatus larger (524 kDa) than A. domesticus (344 kDa). Both chitosans showed similar (p > 0.05) lipid-binding capacity shrimp chitosan. effective at inhibiting microbial growth surrogate foodborne pathogens commercial At a concentration 0.50 mg/mL chitosan, approximately 100% Listeria innocua inhibited, due contribution solvent-acetic acid. same concentration, Escherichia coli inhibited 90% samples ~80% DDA, where decrease DDA led decreased antimicrobial activity. However, had no effect chitosan’s capacity. As more edible insects become normalized protein source our diet, use by-products, such insect processing, show promising applications pharmaceutical food industries.