Globally, there is an increasingly important focus on the exploration of sustainable locally produced oils with better biocompatibility and enhanced performances in biomedical applications. Though crickets are rich source of lipids, there is limited research focus on the quality of these oils. This study evaluates oil qualities of two cricket species: the African cricket Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga and the two-spotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus De Geer. The physicochemical properties of the oils were determined using standard analytical methods, while fatty acid analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oxalates and phytates were determined using high performance liquid chromatography, while tannins and total polyphenols were determined using spectrophotometry. Our results demonstrated that both cricket oils had similar physicochemical properties. Peroxide, saponification and acid values ranged between 1.92-2.49mEqO2/Kg, 234-246mgKOH and 1.10-2.19mgKOH, respectively. Both crickets are rich sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids (Eicosapentaenoic, Docosahexaenoic, and linolenic), and omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic). Palmitic (23.89-31.18%), and oleic (10.94-11.4%) were the most predominant saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Phytochemical levels ranged between 0 - 97mg/100g. The increasingly growing demand for the use of natural oil sources in the field of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, provide a unique opportunity for cricket oils to be considered as innovative market-driven and sustainable high-valued alternative products.

This research was financially supported by BioInnovate Africa Programme (INSBIZ-Contribution ID No. 51050076); Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the African Union - african innovation - JKUAT AND PAUSTI Network (AFRICA - ai - JAPAN Project - Phase 1); Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Section for research, innovation, and higher education (RAF-3058 KEN-18/0005); Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) (ProteinAfrica - Grant No: LS/2020/154), the Rockefeller Foundation (WAVE-IN-Grant No.: 2021 FOD 030), the Curt Bergfors Foundation Food Planet Prize Award, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-032416); the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of the Republic of Kenya. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Therefore, the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the donors.