Structural, physicochemical, and immune-enhancing properties of edible insect protein isolates from larvae.

Edible insects are promising future food resources globally. Herein, the structural, physicochemical, and bio-functional properties of edible insect protein isolates (EPIs) extracted from larvae were investigated. The results showed that EPIs have a high total essential amino acid content; moreover, β-sheet is the major secondary protein structure. The protein solution was highly soluble and electrically stable and did not aggregate easily. In addition, EPIs exhibited immune-enhancing properties; treatment of macrophages induced the activation of macrophages and consequently promoted the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, and IL-1β). Moreover, macrophage activation of EPIs was confirmed to occur through the MAPK and NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, our results suggest that the isolated protein can be fully utilized as a functional food material and alternative protein source in the future food industry.