جداسازی کمپلکس کیتین- ملانین از سه گونه از حشرات

One of the most common pigments found in insect cuticle is melanin, which is crucial for colouration, wound healing and innate immunity. Within the animal kingdom, melanins are classified based on the presence of a group, into eumelanin (which imparts brown to black coloration) and phleomelanin (red to yellow colouration). To extract the melanin complex, three species of insects including Hermetia illuscens (Stratiomiidae) (pupal exuvia), Tenebrio molitor larval exuvia (Tenebrionidae), and Vespa orientalis (Vespidae) dead imago were used. After grinding each insect, protein and mineral compounds of the insect were removed. The removal of minerals was done by processing the crushed raw materials with 2 M hydrochloric acid first for 30 minutes at room temperature with stirring and then for 60 minutes at 60-70 degrees Celsius with stirring. Deproteinization process was done with 30W/V% sodium hydroxide solution for 1 hour at 70°C. In each process, the obtained materials were washed and filtered by distilled water until reaching neutral pH and then dried at 35 °C. In this work a chitin-melanin complex were obtained. The functional properties of the obtained complex were investigated by Fourier transform spectrometer (FTIR). Spectroscopic pattern results were consistent with standard samples. The relative production rate of chitin-melanin complex was 17%, 86% and 77% for black soldier fly pupal exuvia, oriental hornet dead imago and mealworm larval exuvia, respectively.