US EPA

1446127 

Journal Article 

Antibacterial effect of extracts of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae against Gram-negative bacteria 

Choi, WonH; Yun, JiHye; Chu, JP; Chu, KiB 

2012 

1 

Entomological Research
ISSN: 1738-2297
EISSN: 1748-5967 

42 

5 

219-226 

10.1111/j.1748-5967.2012.00465.x 

WOS:000309180600002 

Larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens are
well-known fly larvae that inhabit many countries around the world. Antimicrobial agents derived
from the larvae may be among the substances that are produced in the body for their survival.
This study was carried out to identify the antimicrobial effects of H.?illucens larvae that
commonly inhabit animal waste and food waste. To evaluate the pharmacological effects of H.?
illucens larvae extracts, the larvae were extracted by various organic solvents, and their
antibacterial effects were determined by antimicrobial methods, such as agar disk diffusion and
turbidometric assays. The methanol extracts (ME) indicated antibacterial effects against the
proliferation of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Shigella sonnei. However,
antibacterial effects were not induced in Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis,
Streptococcus mutans and Sarcina lutea. The bacterial growth treated with ME was strongly
inhibited from 20?mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner compared with other extracts, and
antibacterial activity gradually decreased after 24?h. Moreover, the minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) values of ME against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and
Shigella sonnei for 12?h were measured as 44.74?mg/mL, 43.98?mg/mL and 43.96?mg/mL, respectively.
These results demonstrate that ME of H.?illucens larvae not only has antibacterial activity which
strongly inhibits the growth and proliferation of the bacteria but also unique properties which
effectively block the viability of the bacteria. 

antimicrobial activity; bacterial inhibition zone; Hermetia illucens; Klebsiella pneumoniae