Evaluation of nutritional composition and ecotoxicity of the stick insect Cladomorphus phyllinum

The global population is estimated to reach 9 billion at 2050; thus, there will be an increase of food demand. In this scenario, edible insects can be considered as an option for both food and supplements source. In this work was evaluated the nutritional aspects of Cladomorphus phyllinum, also known as stick insect. Protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, minerals and ecotoxicity were analyzed. The raw sample had protein, carbohydrate, ester and lipid content of 17.96%, 8.33%, 15.23% and 1.85%, respectively, while the dry sample presented 64.6% protein content. It has been found that the dry stick insect presented the essential amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine and histidine. Oleic acid (57.03%), palmitic acid (15.94%), linoleic acid (13.76%) and stearic acid (10.67%) were also found in dry samples. The micronutrients calcium, magnesium and zinc were the minerals with expressive concentrations. Besides, acute ecotoxicity tests performed with extremely sensitive species, Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri and Artemia Salina, revealed no toxicity associated with the Cladomorphus phyllinum. These results obtained in this work indicate that the stick insect can be used as an alternative insect-based protein, minerals, fatty acids and amino source.