Authors : Hilaire Macaire Womeni , Michel Linder , Bernard Tiencheu , Felicite Tchouanguep Mbiapo , Pierre Villeneuve , Jacques Fanni and Michel Parmentier
Abstract: Two unusual oils, obtained from Oryctes owariensis (raphia weevil) and Homorocoryphus nitidulus (crickets) collected in Cameroon were investigated. In addition to the oil content extracted with hexane in Soxhlet, the fatty acid composition as well as differents class of lipids was determined, respectively by CPG and TLC-FID-Iastroscan. The oil content of insects Oryctes owariensis amounted to 53.75% whereas, Homorocoryphus nitidulus came to 67.25%. The oils contained 45.46 and 45.63% of linoleic acid, 37.60 and 27.59% of palmitoleic acid, 4.19 and 16.19% of linolenic, respectively for raphia weevil and crickets oils. The total PUFA and UFA ranged, respectively from 50.86 and 94.49% in Oryctes owariensis and 62.39 and 97.14% in Homorocoryphus nitidulus. Results also showed that the ratios of PUFA/SFA ranged to 16.70 and 105.75. The neutral lipids (TAG 91-93%) were the predominant class of fat amount fatty acids. These 2 insects may be an alternative potential source of essential fatty acids: linoleic acid.
Hilaire Macaire Womeni , Michel Linder , Bernard Tiencheu , Felicite Tchouanguep Mbiapo , Pierre Villeneuve , Jacques Fanni and Michel Parmentier , 2009. Oils of Oryctes owariensis and Homorocoryphus nitidulus Consumed in Cameroon: Sources of Linoleic Acid. Journal of Food Technology, 7: 54-58.