Harnessing Edible Insect Bioactives for Gut Health: A Comprehensive Review on Chitin-Derived Prebiotics and Peptidomic Insights from the Black Soldier Fly

Abstract

The growing need for sustainable protein and functional food ingredients has made edible insects stand out as a flexible source of bioactives. Black Soldier Fly larva (BSFL) bioactives, such as chitooligosaccharides (COSs) and peptides, present potential benefits for gut health; nevertheless, their molecular pathways, clinical validation, and commercial scalability have yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study systematically analyzes current progress in BSFL bioactive extraction and characterization, emphasizing enzymatic and thermal processing, controlled enzyme development, and integrated supercritical fluid enzymatic pipelines. We assess preclinical and animal research that illustrates prebiotic modulation of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium populations; antimicrobial peptide-mediated immune signaling; and antioxidant activity. Multi-omics frameworks that connect the microbial metabolism of COS to gut health help us understand how these processes function. A comparison of the regulatory environments for food and feed applications in the EU, North America, and Asia shows that there are gaps in human safety trials, harmonized standards, and techno-economic assessments. Finally, we suggest some next steps: randomized controlled human trials in groups with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and metabolic syndrome; standardized data integration pipelines for multi-omics; and life cycle and cost-benefit analyses of modular, vertically integrated BSFL biorefineries with AI-driven reactors, digital twins, and blockchain traceability. Addressing these issues will hasten the conversion of BSFL bioactives into safe, effective, and sustainable functional meals and nutraceuticals.

Keywords: bioactives; black soldier fly; edible insects; functional foods; gut health; peptidomics; prebiotics; sustainability.

Figure 1

The life cycle of the BSF (H. illucens) from egg to adult, illustrating all developmental stages relevant to insect farming and bioactive compound production (created in BioRender BSF life cycle|BioRender, 2025).

Figure 2

The essential bioactive compounds obtained from BSFL and their diverse functions within the gut ecosystem, such as AMPs, chitin-derived prebiotics, crucial amino acids, and bioactive lipids, which together promote gut health by modulating microbiota, enhancing barrier function, and regulating the immune system.

Figure 3

Mechanisms of COS in Modulating Gut Health and Inflammatory Responses.

Figure 4

Bioactive functions of BSFL peptides in gut health.

Figure 5

BSF-derived bioactive peptides provide multifaceted protection for gastrointestinal health through coordinated antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant mechanisms as described by Koutsos et al. [166], Created in BioRender GIT protection|(BioRender, 2025).

Figure 6

Schematic representation of BSFL-derived bioactive peptides within the gut ecosystem, illustrating their antimicrobial action against pathogens, selective promotion of probiotic microbes through nutrient and competitive modulation, upregulation of epithelial and subepithelial tight junction proteins to reinforce barrier integrity, and immune receptor interactions on dendritic cells and macrophages that skew cytokine profiles toward anti-inflammatory responses, collectively driving microbial balance and host resilience.

Figure 7

BSF-derived chitin and peptides synergistically shape the gut microbiome: chitin scaffolds support adhesion; COS nourish beneficial commensals; AMPs eliminate pathogens; and immunomodulatory peptides engage TLR2/4 to fine-tune mucosal immunity and promote probiotic resilience.