ScholarWorks@중앙대학교

초록

This study evaluated the structural and functional properties of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBS) subjected to hexane or supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) defatting, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. The untreated (W), hexane-defatted (H), and SC-CO2-defatted (S) samples, and their respective hydrolysates (HH, SH), were compared. Defatting reduced particle size and improved uniformity, protein integrity and essential amino acids were better preserved with SC-CO2 than hexane. SH had the highest amino acid content and antioxidant activity. In C2C12 myotubes, PBS-derived samples alleviated dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy by increasing myotube diameter and reducing atrophy markers (Myostatin, MuRF-1, and Atrogin-1), with SH and HH outperforming the positive control. Moreover, PBS hydrolysates suppressed inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6) and improved insulin signaling by restoring Akt phosphorylation in palmitate-treated cells. Although the W group showed partial activity, its overall efficacy was limited compared with the pretreated samples. These findings suggest that SC-CO2 defatting combined with enzymatic hydrolysis enhances the structural integrity and multifunctional bioactivity of PBS proteins, supporting their potential as sustainable functional ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and muscle-protective properties.

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