Bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of edible-insect protein digests from Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus in an in vitro digestion model

With the increasing global demand for sustainable protein sources, edible insects are receiving increasing attention because of their nutritional value and environmental benefits. The present study examined the bioaccessibilities and antioxidant activities of peptides from the digesta of edible-insect proteins (<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> and <i>Zophobas atratus</i> larvae) and used an <i>in vitro</i> digestion model to explore their interactions with myeloperoxidase. These proteins exhibited bioaccessibilities superior to that of soy protein and produced digesta with high antioxidant activities. The 10 active peptides present in these digesta were sequenced and shown to strongly bind to myeloperoxidase using molecular docking analysis. Thus, this study demonstrates that edible-insect proteins are highly bioaccessible and produce bioactive peptides with potent antioxidant properties upon digestion, highlighting their potential as functional food ingredients.