Toxicological evaluation of genotoxicity and 28-day oral toxicity study on freeze-dried powder of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae

•We exam safety of freeze-dried powder of Allomyrina dichotoma as an edible material.•Freeze-dried powder of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae produces no mutagenic effect.•Freeze-dried powder of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae produces no oral toxicity.

Edible insects have noteworthy potential as an alternative food material because of their economical efficiency and nutritional value. This study was conducted to evaluate toxicological effects on in vitro and in vivo experiments for Allomyrina dichotoma (A. dichotoma), whose larvae are known for containing biologically valuable functions. The present study included testings for genotoxicity and 28-day repeated oral toxicity. The genotoxic potential was evaluated by a standard battery test. To evaluate the repeated dose toxicity, the freeze-dried powder of A. dichotoma larvae was orally administered to Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 250, 850 and 2500 mg/kg body weight per day for 28 days. The powder exhibited no mutagenic or clastogenic effects based on the results of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity tests. Also, there were no treatment-related changes or findings on the repeated oral toxicity in rats after 28 days oral administration. In conclusion, the results of these experiments suggest that the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) of the freeze-dried powder from A. dichotoma larvae was determined to be 2500 mg/kg/day or more in both sexes of SD rats.

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