In-vitro study shows antioxidant effects of black soldier fly ingredients

A 2020 study by the Centre of Oxygen, Research & Development in Belgium, published in Journal of Animals, evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant activity of various feed ingredients, including black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) protein derivatives, chicken meal, and fish meal.

Sickness and infections can elevate the stress levels in animals, leading to the formation of unwanted stress molecules that can have undesirable health effects. One example of these molecules is free radicals, which, in excess, can disrupt the normal biological balance of the animals. Antioxidants can help mitigate the negative effects of these molecules, promoting overall health and well-being.

This study used radical scavenging models (DPPH and ABTS), enzymatic assays (classical and SIEFED assays to evaluate myeloperoxidase activity modulation) and a cellular model (neutrophil activity modulation) to assess the antioxidant activity of the black soldier fly larvae protein derivatives such as PureeX and hydrolised puree in comparison to commonly use feed ingredients (fish meal and chicken meal). One of the conducted lab tests shows that PureeX was able to suppress the negative effect of free radicals by 90%. Conversely, chicken meal and fishmeal could trigger the production of these harmful molecules by 5-15%. The antioxidant activity helps neutralise harmful free radicals, supporting animal health and slowing ageing.

The research highlights the powerful potential of insect ingredients to enhance animals' organic antioxidant systems beyond basic nutrition.