Work

From Waste to Functional Feed Ingredient: Biochemical and SHK-1 Cell Line Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Aquaculture Nutrition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal (BSFLM) has gained attention as a sustainable feed ingredient in aquaculture, yet its functional properties at the cellular level remain underexplored. This study evaluated the antioxidative and proliferative effects of BSFLM derived from larvae fed different waste-based substrates (Kitchen Waste (KW); Agricultural Waste (AW); Aquaculture Sludge (AS); Aquaculture Offal (AO); Mix (MX)), using the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) SHK-1 cell line as an in-vitro model. BSFLM treatments were assessed through four assays: oxidative stress mitigation under H2O2 exposure, baseline cellular proliferation, proliferation under protein-standardized conditions, and recovery from serum starvation. Results showed that BSFLM from plant-based substrates—particularly MX and KW diets—significantly (p < 0.05) improved cell viability across all assays. Under oxidative stress, MX (121.1% ± 5.9) and AW (119.9% ± 6.1) treatments maintained viability levels comparable to Vitamin C (119.3% ± 3.8) and the untreated control (137.5% ± 11.6). In proliferation assays, MX (207.6% ± 16.3) and KW (196.3% ± 11.1) outperformed animal-based treatments AO (122.6% ± 4.4) and AS (113.1% ± 3.7), and these effects persisted under protein-standardized conditions, although the statistical significance was reduced. In the recovery from serum starvation assay, cells treated with MX (45.5% ± 1.9) and KW (42.0% ± 0.4) exhibited markedly higher viability than AS (15.5% ± 1.9) and AO (14.8% ± 2.2). These findings highlight the superior functional properties of BSFLM derived from plant-based substrates and support its potential use as a targeted functional feed ingredient in aquaculture feed formulations.

Source: Antioxidants

DOI: 10.3390/antiox14101172

Authors: Julio Camperio, Jorge Parodi, Pamela Olivares-Ferretti, Jorge A. Suarez, Daniel D. Benetti

Institutions: University of Miami, Universidad Autónoma de Chile

Language: English

Topic: Insect Utilization and Effects

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499