Compositions and methods for producing insects and / or their excrement

Abstract

We provide technology that enables cost reduction and sustainable procurement of carotenoids as a supply material. The present invention provides a composition obtained from at least one of insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) and their excrement, A composition containing one or more species selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of the insect and its excrement combined.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for producing insects and / or their excrement. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for producing a composition for feed using insects as raw materials. This method for producing a composition includes a step of removing fat-soluble components contained in insects using a solvent. The produced composition is substantially free of benzenediol and / or its derivatives, and is described as being widely usable as feed or feed ingredients for aquaculture and livestock. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 213172 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present inventors have been conducting research aimed at transferring carotenoids, such as lycopene, which are not contained in egg yolk, to egg yolk. However, purified carotenoid products are relatively expensive. There is a need for technology that enables cost reduction and sustainable procurement of carotenoids that can be used as additives in feed and other foods.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a technology that enables cost reduction and sustainable procurement of carotenoid supply materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A composition according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a composition derived from at least one of insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) and their excrement, and contains one or more species selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of the insect and excrement combined.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for producing insects and / or their excrement, which comprises feeding insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) insect feed containing one or more selected from the group consisting of 0.05 μg or more of lycopene, 0.30 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.03 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of insect feed.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a technology can be provided that enables cost reduction and sustainable procurement of carotenoid supply materials. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of days after hatching and the weight of the larvae in each test plot. [Figure 2] 1 is a graph showing the total weight of larvae and the total weight of excrement 15 days after hatching in each test plot. [Figure 3] This is a graph showing the carotenoid content of larvae 15 days after hatching and the carotenoid content of insect feed in each test plot. [Figure 4] This is a graph showing the carotenoid content of excrement 15 days after hatching and the carotenoid content of insect feed in each test plot. [Figure 5] 1 is a graph showing the cis isomer ratio in larvae 15 days after hatching and the cis isomer ratio in excrement in each test plot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] A composition obtained using at least one of insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) and their excrement as a raw material, A composition containing one or more species selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of the insect and its excrement combined. [2] The composition according to [1], which is used as either a feed or a fertilizer. [3] A composition obtained using excrement from insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, The excrement contains 0.10 μg or more of lycopene per 1 g, The composition, wherein the cis-isomer ratio of lycopene in the excreta is 18% or more. [4] A composition obtained using excrement from insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, The excrement contains 0.60 μg or more of beta-carotene per 1 g, The composition, wherein the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the excreta is 28% or more. [5] A method for producing insects and / or their excrement, comprising feeding insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) with insect feed containing one or more selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 0.50 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of insect feed. [6] The method for producing insects and / or their excrement described in [5], wherein the insect feed contains fruit waste and / or vegetable waste containing one or more species selected from the group consisting of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene.

[0011] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, when a numerical range is described using "greater than or equal to" or "less than or equal to," the range includes both the lower limit and the upper limit unless otherwise specified. For example, the description "10 or greater and 20 or less" includes both the lower limit "10" and the upper limit "20." In this specification, the upper and lower limits of each numerical range can be combined in any combination.

[0012] 1. Composition (Part 1) The composition of this embodiment is made from at least one of insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) and their excrement, and contains one or more species selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of insect and excrement combined.

[0013] (1) Insects Insects are a general term for arthropods classified in the class Insecta. Insects are also attracting attention as a protein source because they can be easily and efficiently produced from organic matter. Insects are known to ingest organic matter and excrete nitrogen metabolites and the like. The technology disclosed herein is groundbreaking in that it can add value to insects as a protein source and to insect excrement containing useful components by providing carotenoids.

[0014] Insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) are not particularly limited as long as they exhibit the effects of the present disclosure. The insects are preferably one or more species selected from the group consisting of Diptera (Diptera), Orthoptera (Orthoptera), Coleoptera (Coleoptera), and Lepidoptera (Lepidoptera). Examples of insects in the Diptera include the American soldier fly (Serpentidae) and the house fly (Muscidae). Examples of insects in the Orthoptera include the two-spotted field cricket (Gryllidae). Examples of insects in the Coleoptera include so-called mealworms such as the red mealworm (Tenebrae) and the silkworm moth (Bombycidae). Note that the technology of the present disclosure does not, by its nature, target insects that biosynthesize carotenoids. Insects that biosynthesize carotenoids include, for example, aphids that have a carotenoid biosynthetic pathway.

[0015] The technology of the present disclosure can be realized by providing target insects with food (insect feed, described below) containing a predetermined amount of each carotenoid. Insect feed can be prepared by adding an appropriate carotenoid resource to a basal feed suited to the feeding habits of the target insect species, so the technology of the present disclosure can be said to be a highly versatile technology that can be applied regardless of the insect species. Insect feed will be explained in "4. Method for producing insects and / or their excrement."

[0016] (2) Raw materials for the composition The raw material for the composition may be insects alone, insect excrement alone, or both insects and insect excrement. When both insects and insect excrement are included, the mass ratio of insects to insect excrement (insects:excrement) is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 5:95 to 95:5, 20:80 to 80:20, or 30:70 to 70:30. From the viewpoint of ensuring a sufficient carotenoid content, it is preferable that the raw material contains insect excrement. Furthermore, when insect excrement is included, the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene can be suitably increased. The ratio of cis-isomers of carotenoids will be described later.

[0017] The insects used as the raw material may be any of larvae, pre-pupae, pupae, and adults. Among these, larvae are preferred because they have little specificity for food, consume a large amount of food, and are difficult to move from inside the rearing box to outside.

[0018] The composition contains one or more selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per gram of insect and excrement combined. The composition may contain only one of the above amounts of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene. The composition preferably contains two or more, more preferably three, of the above amounts of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene combined. Furthermore, the composition preferably contains 0.60 μg or more of β-carotene per gram of insect and excrement combined, and more preferably contains at least the above amounts of lycopene and β-carotene.

[0019] Lycopene has the chemical formula C 40 H 56 Phytoene is a type of carotenoid represented by the formula: Phytoene is the first compound in carotenoid biosynthesis (C 40 Phytofluene is a carotenoid biosynthesized from phytoene. β-carotene has the chemical formula C 40 H 56

[0003] β-carotene is a type of carotenoid represented by the formula (I), and is a carotene having a β-ring structure at its terminal. In nature, β-carotene is biosynthesized by cyclization of the terminal of lycopene. These carotenoids have multiple conjugated double bonds, and therefore various cis isomers exist. In this application, an isomer in which at least one of the multiple conjugated double bonds is in the cis form is referred to as a cis-carotenoid, and an isomer in which all of the conjugated double bonds are in the trans form is referred to as an all-trans-carotenoid. When simply referring to carotenoid, this term includes both cis-carotenoid and all-trans-carotenoid.

[0020] In the present application, the carotenoid content and cis-isomer ratio can be measured by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) using a reversed-phase column or a normal-phase column. Quantitation is performed based on the peak area of ​​each isomer peak in a chromatogram.

[0021] Hereinafter, the amount of carotenoids (μg) per 1 g of insects will also be referred to as the "carotenoid content of insects (μg / g)." The amount of carotenoids (μg) per 1 g of excrement will also be referred to as the "carotenoid content of excrement (μg / g)." The amount of each carotenoid per 1 g of insects and excrement combined can be calculated by multiplying the "carotenoid content of insects (μg / g)" and the "carotenoid content of excrement (μg / g)" by the ratio of insects to excrement in the raw material.

[0022] The amount of each carotenoid per gram of insects and excrement combined should be as follows: The lycopene content is 0.10 μg / g or more, preferably 0.50 μg / g or more, more preferably 1.00 μg / g or more, even more preferably 2.00 μg / g or more, and may be 5.00 μg / g or more, 10.00 μg / g or more, 15.00 μg / g or more, or 20.00 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the lycopene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 100.00 μg / g or less. The phytoene content is 1.40 μg / g or more, preferably 2.00 μg / g or more, more preferably 2.50 μg / g or more, even more preferably 3.00 μg / g or more, and may be 4.00 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the phytoene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 20.00 μg / g or less. The phytofluene content is 0.10 μg / g or more, preferably 0.20 μg / g or more, more preferably 0.30 μg / g or more, even more preferably 0.40 μg / g or more, and may be 0.50 μg / g or more, or 0.70 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the phytofluene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 7.00 μg / g or less.

[0023] The β-carotene content per gram of the insect and excrement combined is preferably 0.60 μg / g or more, more preferably 1.00 μg / g or more, even more preferably 1.40 μg / g or more, particularly preferably 1.80 μg / g or more, and may be 3.00 μg / g or more, 5.00 μg / g or more, 8.00 μg / g or more, or 12.00 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the β-carotene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 80.00 μg / g or less.

[0024] The amount of each carotenoid tends to be increased by, for example, increasing the amount of each carotenoid contained in the food (insect feed) fed to the insects. Also, the amount of each carotenoid can be ensured by, for example, providing the carotenoid-containing food (insect feed) for a sufficiently long period of time.

[0025] The composition preferably contains, in addition to the carotenoid, components other than the carotenoid derived from the insects and / or their excrement in the raw material. Examples of the components other than the carotenoid include proteins, lipids, polyphenols, vitamins, nitrogen-containing compounds, phosphate-containing compounds, potassium-containing compounds, various minerals, etc. Examples of nitrogen-containing compounds include chitin and chitosan. The composition may contain the carotenoids, components other than the carotenoids derived from the insects and / or their excrement in the raw materials, and components not derived from insects and / or their excrement, such as additives including preservatives, antioxidants, antifungals, colorants, and excipients.

[0026] (3) Use of the composition The use of the composition is not particularly limited, and the composition can be used in various applications as a carotenoid supply material. For example, the composition may be used as either a feed or a fertilizer.

[0027] Examples of feeds (feed compositions) include feeds for poultry such as chickens, quails, turkeys, ducks, and geese; feeds for livestock such as cattle, horses, and pigs; feeds for aquaculture of aquatic animals such as yellowtail, amberjack, sea bream, trout, shrimp, oysters, and clams; feeds for ornamental fish; and feeds for pets such as pet birds and pet reptiles.

[0028] The present inventors have previously added lycopene and astaxanthin, a carotenoid, to poultry feed and investigated the effects on poultry egg yolks. As a result, they confirmed that the addition of carotenoids has no adverse effect on egg quality and that the carotenoids derived from the additives are transferred to the egg yolks. They also confirmed that the egg yolk quality of these poultry eggs is improved. Therefore, the composition is considered to be particularly useful as poultry feed. The amount of each carotenoid per 1 kg of poultry feed is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, 4 mg / kg to 1300 mg / kg.

[0029] (4) Method for producing the composition The composition of this embodiment can be obtained, for example, using insects and their excrement obtained by "4. Method for producing insects and / or their excrement" described below as raw materials.

[0030] The above composition may contain raw materials as they are, or may contain appropriately processed raw materials, depending on the intended use, etc. Processing methods include drying, freezing, crushing, mashing, etc. When processing raw materials, it is recommended to set processing conditions appropriately so as to ensure the carotenoid content of the raw materials. For example, it is recommended to process the raw materials under conditions of 100°C or less.

[0031] 2. Composition (Part 2) The composition of this embodiment is a composition obtained using the excrement of insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, and contains 0.10 μg or more of lycopene per 1 g of excrement, and the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene in the excrement is 18% or more.

[0032] In "2. Composition (Part 2)," the explanations regarding insects, uses of the composition, and manufacturing method of the composition shall be the same as those in the "(1) Insects," "(3) Uses of the composition," and "(4) Manufacturing method of the composition" sections in "1. Composition (Part 1)." In "2. Composition (Part 2)," the explanation regarding the lycopene content is the same as the explanation regarding lycopene in the columns "1. Composition (Part 1)" and "(2) Ingredients of the Composition." In other words, the lycopene content is the same as that in "1. Composition (Part 1)," except that excrement is used as at least an ingredient.

[0033] The technology of this embodiment was developed based on the unknown property that, even when insects were fed insect feed containing gac fruit with a 15.7% lycopene cis-isomer ratio, the lycopene cis-isomer ratio in the excrement was higher than the cis-isomer ratio in gac fruit, and was greater than the amount normally present in natural products. Furthermore, the lycopene cis-isomer ratio in the insects was approximately equal to that in gac fruit.

[0034] In this embodiment, the lycopene cis-isomer ratio in the excrement is 18% or more, preferably 20% or more, and more preferably 25% or more. The upper limit of the lycopene cis-isomer ratio in the excrement is usually 50% or less.

[0035] Although it is unclear why the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene in excrement is higher than that in insect feed, it is possible that this is related to the availability of lycopene in the insect's living body. In other words, rather than using the lycopene material directly, feeding it to insects and using their excrement as a raw material may have increased the ratio of cis-isomers.

[0036] Generally, carotenoids biosynthesized in plants are predominantly all-trans carotenoids, in which all double bonds are trans-conjugated. However, in animals, cis carotenoids, in which some double bonds are isomerized to cis-conjugated forms, are abundant and are known to be highly bioavailable. It has been shown that feeding laying hens a diet with a high ratio of cis carotenoid isomers increases the carotenoid content and cis carotenoid ratio in egg yolks. This suggests that cis-lycopene is more highly utilized by laying hens than all-trans-lycopene. If egg yolks contain a high amount of cis-lycopene, it may be possible for humans to ingest lycopene more efficiently by consuming eggs. It has also been reported that the cis-lycopene has a stronger color-enhancing effect than the trans-lycopene in aquatic animals such as trout and shrimp. This suggests that cis-lycopene is more highly utilized by aquatic animals than all-trans-lycopene. If aquatic animals contain a large amount of cis-lycopene, it may be possible for humans to ingest lycopene more efficiently by consuming aquatic animals.

[0037] 3. Composition (Part 3) The composition of this embodiment is a composition obtained using the excrement of insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, and contains 0.60 μg or more of β-carotene per 1 g of excrement, and the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the excrement is 28% or more.

[0038] In "3. Composition (Part 3)," the explanations regarding insects, uses of the composition, and manufacturing method of the composition shall be the same as those in the "(1) Insects," "(3) Uses of the composition," and "(4) Manufacturing method of the composition" sections in "1. Composition (Part 1)." In "3. Composition (Part 3)," the explanation regarding the content of β-carotene is the same as the explanation regarding β-carotene in the columns "1. Composition (Part 1)" and "(2) Raw materials of the composition." In other words, except for the fact that excrement is used as at least the raw material and that β-carotene is an essential component, the content of β-carotene is the same as that in "1. Composition (Part 1)."

[0039] The technology of this embodiment was developed based on an unknown attribute in which, even when insects were fed a diet (insect feed) containing gac fruit with a 24.9% cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene, the cis-isomer ratio of lycopene in the excrement was greater than the cis-isomer ratio of gac fruit, and was greater than the amount normally present in natural products.

[0040] In this embodiment, the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the excrement is 28% or more, preferably 30% or more, more preferably 35% or more, and particularly preferably 40% or more. The upper limit of the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the excrement is usually 70% or less. The cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the insect of this embodiment is preferably 28% or more, more preferably 30% or more, and even more preferably 35% or more. The upper limit of the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the insect is usually 60% or less.

[0041] Although it is unclear why the ratio of cis-isomers of β-carotene in excrement is higher than that in insect feed, it is possible that this is related to the availability of β-carotene in the insect's living body. In other words, rather than using the β-carotene material directly, feeding it to insects and using their excrement as a raw material may have increased the ratio of cis-isomers.

[0042] Generally, carotenoids biosynthesized in plants are predominantly all-trans carotenoids, in which all double bonds are trans-conjugated. However, in animals, cis carotenoids, in which some double bonds are isomerized to cis-conjugated forms, are abundant and are known to be highly bioavailable. It has been shown that feeding laying hens a diet with a high ratio of cis carotenoid isomers increases the carotenoid content and cis carotenoid ratio in egg yolks. This suggests that cis-β-carotene is more highly utilized by laying hens than all-trans-β-carotene. If egg yolks contain a high amount of cis-β-carotene, it may be possible for humans to ingest β-carotene more efficiently by consuming eggs. In addition, similar to cis-lycopene, it may be highly utilized by aquatic animals such as trout and shrimp, and it may be possible for humans to ingest β-carotene highly efficiently by eating aquatic animals.

[0043] 4. Method for producing insects and / or their excrement The method for producing insects and / or their excrement comprises feeding insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) with insect feed containing at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.05 μg or more of lycopene, 0.30 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.03 μg or more of phytofluene per gram of insect feed. The insect feed preferably contains at least 0.15 μg of β-carotene per gram.

[0044] From the viewpoint of effective utilization of carotenoid resources and reduction of environmental burden, the insect feed preferably contains fruit waste and / or vegetable waste containing one or more selected from the group consisting of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene. The fruit waste and / or vegetable waste preferably further contains β-carotene. Examples of fruits include gac fruit, guava, rose hip, pink grapefruit, orange, etc. Examples of vegetables include tomatoes, watermelons, carrots, spinach, pumpkins, palm, etc. Examples of waste include inedible parts, juice residue, food waste, etc.

[0045] The insect feed may be, for example, a mixture of a basal feed and the above-mentioned fruit waste and / or vegetable waste. The basal feed can be selected appropriately depending on the feeding habits of the insects. The amount of the above-mentioned fruit waste and / or vegetable waste is not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of ensuring the carotenoid content, the amount is preferably 0.1% by mass or more, more preferably 0.5% by mass or more, even more preferably 1.0% by mass or more, and particularly preferably 2.0% by mass or more, when the total amount of the insect feed is taken as 100% by mass. The upper limit of the amount is not particularly limited as long as the insects can ingest it, and may be 50% by mass or less, 30% by mass or less, or 10% by mass or less. When the waste has a high moisture content, the handling of the insect feed can be improved by lowering the above-mentioned mixing ratio.

[0046] The amount of each carotenoid per gram of insect feed should be as follows: The lycopene content is 0.05 μg / g or more, preferably 0.10 μg / g or more, more preferably 0.50 μg / g or more, and even more preferably 1.00 μg / g or more, and may be 2.00 μg / g or more, 3.00 μg / g or more, 4.00 μg / g or more, or 5.00 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the lycopene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 50.00 μg / g or less. The phytoene content is 0.30 μg / g or more, preferably 0.40 μg / g or more, more preferably 0.50 μg / g or more, and may be 0.60 μg / g or more, or 0.70 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the phytoene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 10.00 μg / g or less. The phytofluene content is 0.03 μg / g or more, preferably 0.06 μg / g or more, more preferably 0.10 μg / g or more, and may be 0.12 μg / g or more, or 0.16 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the phytofluene content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 3.00 μg / g or less.

[0047] The β-carotene content per gram of insect feed is preferably 0.15 μg / g or more, more preferably 0.50 μg / g or more, even more preferably 1.00 μg / g or more, particularly preferably 1.50 μg / g or more, and may be 2.00 μg / g or more, 3.00 μg / g or more, or 3.50 μg / g or more. The upper limit of the β-carotene content is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 40.00 μg / g or less.

[0048] The method for producing insects and / or their excrement involves rearing insects in the same manner as conventional insect rearing, except that the insect feed contains a predetermined amount of carotenoids. In other words, the method for producing insects and / or their excrement involves simply feeding insect feed containing a carotenoid resource, and by utilizing the accumulation and utilization of carotenoids by insects, more useful carotenoid resources can be obtained.

[0049] The method for producing insects and / or their excrement according to this embodiment can increase the production yield of insects. Specifically, when the insect feed contains a predetermined amount of carotenoids, the total weight of the insects can be increased compared to when the insect feed does not contain carotenoids, although the weight per insect remains unchanged. Although the reason for this is unclear, it is possible that the total number of insects increased due to the antioxidant effect of carotenoids.

[0050] The insects and their excrement obtained by the method for producing insects and / or their excrement of this embodiment are suitable as raw materials for the above-mentioned composition (No. 1). In addition to the above-mentioned composition (No. 1), the insects and their excrement obtained by the method for producing insects and / or their excrement of this embodiment can be used for various purposes as carotenoid materials.

[0051] 5. Effects of this embodiment The composition of the present embodiment utilizes the carotenoid accumulation ability of insects to add the added value of carotenoids to conventionally used components derived from insects or their excrement. For example, by using the resulting composition as feed or fertilizer, it can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Furthermore, the composition of the present embodiment can increase the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene and / or β-carotene in the excrement of insects compared to the feed ingested by the insects, thereby providing a more useful composition. Furthermore, the method for producing insects and / or their excrement of this embodiment can, for example, effectively utilize carotenoid resources that have conventionally been discarded, thereby improving insect production. Furthermore, the method for producing insects and / or their excrement of this embodiment can, for example, effectively utilize carotenoid resources that are not suitable as they are for poultry feed, livestock feed, aquatic animal feed, or fertilizer, thereby obtaining carotenoid resources derived from insects and / or excrement that are suitable for poultry feed, livestock feed, aquatic animal feed, fertilizer, etc. [Example]

[0052] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to examples.

[0053] 1. Insect and / or excrement production tests (1) Preparation A production test was conducted in which insects were fed the insect feed described below. The insects used were American soldier flies, which belong to the family Scorpionidae of the order Diptera. The insect feed used was basal materials and gac fruit peel. The basal feed was broiler feed (CP 18%, ME 2800 kcal / kg). Gac fruit peel is an inedible part of the fruit and is considered fruit waste.

[0054] The carotenoid contents (μg / g) of the basal diet and gac fruit peel were as follows: The cis-isomer ratios (%) of lycopene and β-carotene in gac fruit peel were as follows: Measurements of the carotenoid contents (μg / g) and cis-isomer ratios (%) were performed on two samples each of the basal diet and gac fruit peel, and the average values ​​were calculated. <Basal feed, feed for T1 test group> Lycopene content: 0.00μg / g β-carotene content: 0.10μg / g Phytoene content: 0.26μg / g Phytofluene content: 0.02 μg / g Zeaxanthin content: 0.62 μg / g Lutein content: 0.27 μg / g <Peel of Gac fruit Lycopene content: 101.60 μg / g β-carotene content: 69.73 μg / g Phytoene content: 11.40 μg / g Phytofluene content: 3.09 μg / g Zeaxanthin content: 0.43 μg / g Lutein content: 0.14 μg / g Ratio of cis-isomer of lycopene: 15.7% Ratio of cis-isomer of β-carotene: 24.9%

[0055] (2) Test plots The test plots for the production test were set as follows. The following blending amounts of the peel of Gac fruit are mass ratios when the entire insect feed is 100% by mass. T1 test plot: Insect feed containing only the basal feed (blending amount of the peel of Gac fruit: 0.0% by mass) was fed. T2 test plot: Insect feed containing a mixture of the basal feed and the peel of Gac fruit (blending amount of the peel of Gac fruit: 2.5% by mass) was fed. T3 test plot: Insect feed containing a mixture of the basal feed and the peel of Gac fruit (blending amount of the peel of Gac fruit: 5.0% by mass) was fed.

[0056] The carotenoid contents (μg / g) in the feed of the T2 test plot and the feed of the T3 test plot are as follows. The carotenoid contents (μg / g) were calculated by multiplying the respective blending ratios by the carotenoid contents (μg / g) of the basal feed and the peel of Gac fruit above. <Feed of the T2 test plot Lycopene content: 2.54 μg / g β-carotene content: 1.84 μg / g Phytoene content: 0.54 μg / g Phytofluene content: 0.10 μg / g Zeaxanthin content: 0.62 μg / g Lutein content: 0.27 μg / g <Feed for the T3 test group> Lycopene content: 5.08 μg / g β-Carotene content: 3.58 μg / g Phytoene content: 0.82 μg / g Phytofluene content: 0.17 μg / g Zeaxanthin content: 0.61 μg / g Lutein content: 0.26 μg / g

[0057] (3) Production A breeding box of 50 cm × 39 cm × 10 cm was prepared. 5 kg of feed was put into the breeding box of each test group, and 1 g of eggs of American midge were placed on the net placed on the feed respectively. After the American midge hatched, 100 g of feed and 150 mL of water were added per day for 5 days. The larvae and excreta 15 days after hatching were collected. The test was conducted in 5 replicates (n = 5).

[0058] 2. Evaluation The weight of larvae per head (g / head) until 15 days after hatching was measured, and the average value was calculated. The results are shown in the graph of Figure 1.

[0059] Regarding the larvae and excreta 15 days after hatching, the total weight of larvae (kg) and the total weight of larvae excreta (kg) were measured, and the average values were calculated. The results are shown in Table 1 and the graph of Figure 2.

Table 1

[0060] The content of each carotenoid (μg / g) in the larvae 15 days after hatching was measured, and the average value was calculated. The results are shown in Table 2 and the left graph of Figure 3. The right graph of Figure 3 represents the content of each carotenoid (μg / g) in the feed of each test group.

Table 2

[0061] The carotenoid content (μg / g) of the excrement 15 days after hatching was measured and the average value was calculated. The results are shown in Table 3 and the graph on the left side of Figure 4. The graph on the right side of Figure 4 shows the carotenoid content (μg / g) of the diet in each test group. [Table 3]

[0062] The cis-isomer ratios (%) of lycopene and β-carotene in the larvae 15 days after hatching were determined, and the average values ​​were calculated. The results are shown in Table 4 and the graph on the left side of Figure 5. [Table 4]

[0063] The cis-isomer ratios (%) of lycopene and β-carotene in the excrement 15 days after hatching were determined, and the average values ​​were calculated. The results are shown in Table 5 and the graph on the right side of Figure 5. [Table 5]

[0064] 3.Results As shown in Figure 1, the experimental groups (T2 and T3) fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% gac fruit peel by mass did not show significant differences in weight per animal throughout the experimental period compared to the experimental group (T1) fed diets without gac fruit peel. This suggests that the addition of gac fruit peel does not have a significant adverse effect on weight per animal.

[0065] The total weight of the larvae will be considered with reference to Table 1 and the graph on the left side of Figure 2. The total weight of larvae in the experimental group (T3) fed with a diet containing 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel was significantly higher than that of larvae in the experimental group (T1) fed with a diet without gac fruit peel. This result suggests that the inclusion of gac fruit peel can increase insect production.

[0066] With reference to Table 1 and the graph on the right side of Figure 2, we will consider the total weight of excrement. The total weight of excrement in the experimental group (T3) fed with a diet containing 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel was significantly lower than the total weight of excrement in the experimental group (T1) fed with a diet without gac fruit peel. This result suggests that the inclusion of gac fruit peel may have contributed to the efficient use of insect feed by insects.

[0067] The carotenoid content of the larvae will be discussed with reference to Table 2 and the graph in Figure 3. The larvae in the test groups (T2 and T3) fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% gac fruit peel by mass showed higher lycopene, β-carotene, phytoene, and phytofluene contents than the larvae in the test group (T1) fed diets without gac fruit peel. This suggests that by using such larvae as raw materials for compositions, it is possible to obtain useful compositions containing insect-derived components and each carotenoid.

[0068] The carotenoid content of excrement will be discussed with reference to Table 3 and the graph in Figure 4. The feces of the experimental groups (T2 and T3) fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% gac fruit peel by mass showed higher lycopene, β-carotene, phytoene, and phytofluene contents than the feces of the experimental group (T1) fed diets without gac fruit peel. The lycopene and β-carotene contents in the feces were higher than those in the insects, respectively. These results suggest that the use of such excretions as raw materials for compositions can produce useful compositions containing excretions-derived components and carotenoids, particularly compositions enriched in lycopene and β-carotene.

[0069] The cis-isomer ratios of lycopene and β-carotene will be discussed with reference to Tables 4 and 5 and the graph in Figure 5. In the larvae in the test groups (T2 and T3) fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel, the lycopene cis-isomer ratio was equivalent to the lycopene cis-isomer ratio in gac fruit peel. In the larvae fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel, the ratio of cis-isomers of β-carotene in the test groups (T2 and T3) was higher than the ratio of cis-isomers of β-carotene in the gac fruit peel. In the excrement, the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene in the experimental groups (T2, T3) fed with feed containing 2.5% and 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel was higher than the ratio of cis-isomers of lycopene in gac fruit peel. In the excrement, the ratio of cis-isomers of β-carotene in the experimental groups (T2, T3) fed diets containing 2.5% and 5.0% by mass of gac fruit peel was higher than the ratio of cis-isomers of β-carotene in gac fruit peel.

[0070] Cis-lycopene and cis-β-carotene are known to be more useful carotenoids than all-trans-lycopene and all-trans-β-carotene. These results suggest that excrement containing cis-lycopene and insects and excrement containing cis-β-carotene are more useful carotenoid sources than those provided as feed.

[0071] 4. Effects of the Example According to the above examples, a technology was provided that enables cost reduction and sustainable procurement of carotenoid supply materials.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A composition obtained using at least one of insects (excluding insects that biosynthesize carotenoids) and their excrement as a raw material, A composition containing one or more species selected from the group consisting of 0.10 μg or more of lycopene, 1.40 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.10 μg or more of phytofluene per 1 g of the insect and its excrement combined.

2. The composition according to claim 1, which is used as either a feed or a fertilizer.

3. A composition obtained using excrement from insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, The excrement contains 0.10 μg or more of lycopene per 1 g of the excrement, The composition, wherein the cis-isomer ratio of lycopene in the excreta is 18% or more.

4. A composition obtained using excrement from insects (excluding insects that synthesize carotenoids) as a raw material, The excrement contains 0.60 μg or more of β-carotene per 1 g of the excrement, The composition, wherein the cis-isomer ratio of β-carotene in the excreta is 28% or more.

5. For insects (excluding those that synthesize carotenoids), A method for producing insects and / or their excrement, comprising feeding insect feed containing one or more selected from the group consisting of 0.05 μg or more of lycopene, 0.30 μg or more of phytoene, and 0.03 μg or more of phytofluene per gram of insect feed.

6. 6. The method for producing insects and / or their excrement as described in claim 5, wherein the insect feed comprises fruit waste and / or vegetable waste containing one or more selected from the group consisting of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene.

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