Filipe, Márcia SantosCardoso, Rossana V.C.Ayuso, ManuelMurta, DanielDíaz-Lanza, Ana M.Rosado, CatarinaPires, Tânia C.S.P.Calhelha, Ricardo C.Rijo, Patrícia2018-02-192021-02-272018-01-192021-02-272024Filipe, Márcia Santos; Cardoso, Rossana V.C.; Ayuso, Manuel; Murta, Daniel; Díaz-Lanza, Ana M.; Rosado, Catarina; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Rijo, Patricia (2024). Exploring the potential of Hermetia illucens larvae extracts: A promising approach for dermocosmetic formulations. Heliyon. ISSN 2405-8440. 10:17, p. 1-13http://hdl.handle.net/10198/23337Globally, the yearly disposal of 1.3 billion tonnes of food raises environmental and public health concerns. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae present a sustainable solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass. The extracted oil from BSF larvae, rich in fatty acids (FA), offers an eco-friendly alternative for the cosmetic industry. In this study, larvae sourced from a Portuguese company were fed olive pomace, a by-product of olive oil production. The lipidic sample extracted revealed a composition high in oleic acid, valuable for cosmetics. Investigating the biological activity of lipid extractions from larvae fed with olive pomace is a novel approach. Notably, the n-hexane ultrasound-assisted extraction method demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, and some extracts displayed antimicrobial activity. Five non-cytotoxic extracts; three with no relevant activity (IC50 from 236 to >400 mu g/mL). These findings highlight BSF larvae as an environmentally friendly source of fatty acids, offering promising alternatives for diverse applications.engHermetia illucensBlack soldier flyGreen economyExtractionBiological activitySkin productsjournal article10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e373952405-8440