Bioactive potential of Korean edible insects for targeted functional food application

Abstract

Edible insects are increasingly recognised as sustainable food resources with high nutritional value and diverse bioactive properties. In South Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has approved 10 insect species as food ingredients, providing a regulatory framework for their systematic evaluation and application in functional foods. These species contain 45-74% protein on a dry weight basis, together with essential lipids, micronutrients and chitin, highlighting their potential as nutrient-dense alternative food resources. In addition to their nutritional value, insect-derived bioactives modulate key signalling pathways, including NF- κ B, MAPK, PI3K/Akt and Nrf2, contributing to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, metabolic and neuroprotective effects. However, the strength of evidence varies considerably across species, with most findings derived from in vitro studies, limited in vivo validation and limited human clinical evidence. This review presents a species-based comparative framework for MFDS-approved insects by integrating bioactivity profiles with levels of experimental evidence. It also examines processing technologies and quality control systems, including species-specific standardisation strategies and standard operating procedures developed by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), with respect to functional consistency. Furthermore, the functional relevance of these insects is discussed for target populations, including older adults, individuals at metabolic risk and physically active populations, together with the distinctive South Korean consumer and regulatory context. Overall, Korean edible insects represent a regulated yet evolving functional food resource that requires systematic clinical validation and harmonised industrial frameworks to support broader commercialisation.