Antioxidant activities and immune-enhancement properties of Zophobas morio water extract

Zophobas morio is a type of edible insect and has been gaining attention as an alternative food material due to its significant nutritional quality and various biological effects. This study investigated chemical compositions, structural characteristics, antioxidant activities, and immune-enhancing properties of Zophobas morio water extract (ZMWE) on RAW264.7 cells. Protein (58.24%) and carbohydrate (20.80%) were the main chemical components of ZMWE. In addition, FT-IR analysis confirmed the typical structure of proteins and carbohydrates in the ZMWE. ZMWE exhibited antioxidant activities of 94.12% (ABTS), 71.39% (DPPH), and 5.89 mg AAE/g (FRAP) at 10 mg/mL. Furthermore, the increase in expression of immune modulators and reactive oxygen species production was observed in ZMWE-treated macrophages. Moreover, the increased expression of cluster of differentiation 80 and major histocompatibility complex class II on the cell surface suggested increased M1 polarization in ZMWE-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, ZMWE-induced activated macrophages exhibited a significant increase in phagocytosis activity. Taken together, we first reported the antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties of ZMWE in RAW264.7 cells, highlighting ZMWE as a new functional ingredient.