Introduction:Black Soldier Fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) larvae contain protein in varying amounts depending on the age at harvest. Due to their high protein content, BSF larvae represent a promising alternative protein source with potential bioactivities, including tyrosinase inhibitory activity. This study aimed to evaluate the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of BSF larval protein hydrolysates as a function of larval age and the fractionation process. Materials and Methods:The larvae were dried and defatted using the Soxhlet extraction method. The defatted larvae were characterized by determining ash, moisture, and soluble protein contents. Enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out using AlcalaseⓇ. Soluble protein content in the hydrolysates was analyzed using the Bradford assay. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) of the hydrolysates was analyzed using the o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) method. The hydrolysates were then freeze-dried and fractionated using C18 Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) before tyrosinase inhibition assays. Results:The highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity among the samples was observed in the 15-day-old (D15 larvae) hydrolysate at a concentration of 40,000 ppm, showing 88.98% inhibition. In comparison, inhibition at the same concentration was 75.77% for 5-day-old (D5 larvae), 82.07% for 10-day-old (D10 larvae), and 87.78% for 13-day-old (D13 larvae) hydrolysates. Conclusions:BSF larval protein hydrolysates exhibit varying levels of soluble protein depending on larval age. Moreover, the C18 SPE fractionation process yielded a higher percentage and more uniformity of tyrosinase inhibition than the unfractionated sample.
Pramastya,H , Teng,F Saccio and Rizaldy,D . (2026). Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Hydrolysate. Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports, 13(2), 2035-2043. doi: 10.30491/jabr.2025.531906.1888
MLA
Pramastya,H , , Teng,F Saccio, and Rizaldy,D . "Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Hydrolysate", Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports, 13, 2, 2026, 2035-2043. doi: 10.30491/jabr.2025.531906.1888
HARVARD
Pramastya H, Teng F Saccio, Rizaldy D. (2026). 'Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Hydrolysate', Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports, 13(2), pp. 2035-2043. doi: 10.30491/jabr.2025.531906.1888
CHICAGO
H Pramastya, F Saccio Teng and D Rizaldy, "Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Hydrolysate," Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports, 13 2 (2026): 2035-2043, doi: 10.30491/jabr.2025.531906.1888
VANCOUVER
Pramastya H, Teng F Saccio, Rizaldy D. Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larval Hydrolysate. J Apple Biotechnol Rep. 2026;13(2):2035-2043. doi: 10.30491/jabr.2025.531906.1888
