SELECTION OF CONDITIONS FOR EXTRACTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES FROM WAX MOTH LARVAE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/2312-0967.2025.4.15574Keywords:
wax moth larvae, amino acids, glucose, extraction, macerationAbstract
The aim of the work – to elucidate the dependence of extraction of biologically active substances (BAS) from wax moth larvae on the type of extractant and the duration of the extraction process.
Materials and Methods. The object of the study is the larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella). In order to select the optimal extractant and determine appropriate extraction conditions, the effect of aqueous ethanol solutions of varying concentrations (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% v/v) was examined. Extraction was performed for different durations (3, 5, 7, and 10 days) using a raw material-to-extractant ratio of 1:10. The degree of extraction of amino acids and reducing monosaccharides from the studied raw material was assessed.
The quantitative content of amino acids was determined spectrophotometrically, with the total amount calculated as glycine equivalents. The content of reducing monosaccharides was determined by differential spectrophotometry and expressed as glucose equivalents. A water bath and a ULAB-108UA spectrophotometer were used during the experimental procedures.
Results and Discussion. It was found that the most efficient extraction of amino acids from wax moth larvae occurred when using a 30% aqueous ethanol solution as the extractant. The lowest yield of the studied BAS was observed in the 70% ethanol solution. The maximum release of amino acids was recorded after 10 days of maceration of the raw material.
The highest content of reducing monosaccharides was extracted using 20% and 30% ethanol solutions, amounting to 0.594 mg/mL and 0.576 mg/mL, respectively. These values significantly exceeded those obtained with more concentrated ethanol solutions. It was determined that extending the extraction period from 3 to 10 days led to a substantial increase in the yield of BAS from wax moth larvae. In particular, after 10 days of maceration, the content of reducing monosaccharides in the extracts reached 2.556 mg/mL.
Conclusions. The study established that extraction with a 30% aqueous ethanol solution for 10 days using maceration provides the highest yield of amino acids and reducing monosaccharides from wax moth larvae. These findings support the use of 30% ethanol and a 10-day extraction period with a raw material-to-extractant ratio of 1:10 as the optimal conditions for preparing wax moth tinctures. The results also provide a basis for further investigation of the pharmacological activity of this tincture, particularly its antioxidant and anabolic properties.
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