# Exploring the Potential of Yellow Mealworm (_Tenebrio molitor_) Oil as a Nutraceuticalal Ingredient
## 3 Results and Discussion
### Bioactive Components and Antioxidative Potential of Tenebrio molitor Larvae Oil  
The content of different compounds that contribute to antioxidative oil properties is shown in Table 3. The total tocopherol content obtained was 106 mg/kg, being \(\alpha\)-tocopherol the most abundant, accounting for 52.74% of the total tocopherol (55.8 mg/kg), followed by \(\gamma\)-tocopherol, which represented 44.23%. Significant (\(p<\) 0.05) differences were observed between batches. Tocopherols (vitamin E) are a natural antioxidant that prevents free radical and hydroperoxyl radical oxidation of lipids, one of the most important nutrients in fat-based products. The results of our study confirmed that TM oil can be regarded as a valuable source of tocopherols. Previous results indicated a higher total tocopherol content (144-195 mg/kg), and \(\gamma\)-tocopherol as the main one, while \(\alpha\)-tocopherol content was similar to our results [37; 38]. Different aspects, such as the larvae feeding the oil extraction method, could explain these disparate results. Ingredients are determinant for the contribution totocopherol concentrations. It has been previously observed in other animals that feed concentration of tocopherols is correlated with the final meat tissue concentration [54; 55]. Furthermore, it has been stated that the larvae processing method and oil extraction procedure determine the oil's final nutritional composition and tocopherol content [12]. In the [PERSON] et al. (2016) study, larvae were freeze-dried, grinding, and then extracted with solvents (n-hexane) [37], while [PERSON] et al. (2020) blanched mealworms, then dehydrated with hot air, ground, and finally extracted the oil also using solvents (n-hexane) [38]. Our study samples were also submitted for blanching, followed by dehydration with hot air, but the oil was obtained directly by cold pressing of the dehydrated larvae. Particularly noteworthy is the carotenoid content, 13.65 mg/kg oil. It was attributed to a feeding regimen of larvae rich in carotenoids because they contained carrots. Carotenoids, especially \(\beta\)-carotene, have antioxidant properties, are a precursor of Vitamin A, and impart the orange color in some food products. Due to its chemical structure, it quenches singlet oxygen with a multiple higher efficiency, 2.5-3 fold, than \(\alpha\)-tocopherol, showing relevant potential antioxidant biological properties [56]. It should be noticed that carotenoids were not previously assayed. Analyzed in our study, TM oil samples were also distinguished by substantial content of total phenolic compounds (TPCs)--74.09 mg GAE/kg, considerably higher than previously reported (18 mg GAE/kg) for TM oil [38]. It should be remarked that this content differs significantly from that shown by plant oils rich in polyphenols, like olive or rice brands, which mostly show higher contents, especially those virgin or obtained by cold-press methods [57]. However, the content of total phenolic content in plant oil, which shows large differences between types, depends on many factors, including the condition of the raw material and its variety, degree of its maturity, cultivation (i.e., weather conditions, agotechnical operations), as well as methods of extraction and purification of oil [57]. These facts could explain the similar or even 4-fold higher total phenolic content observed