Evaluation of fermented soybean meal and edible insect hydrolysates as potential serum replacement in pig muscle stem cell culture

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential of edible hydrolysates as a replacement for fetal bovine serum (FBS) in pig muscle stem cell culture. Hydrolysates of two fermented soybean meals (fermented with a combination of Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis and fermented with Bacillus subtilis) and two edible insects (mealworm and cricket) were prepared (FAB-H, FB-H, TM-H, and GB-H, respectively). All hydrolysates prepared showed antioxidant activity and provided a suitable cell culture environment as the pH of media containing each hydrolysate (at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1%) was within the acceptable range. The supplementation with hydrolysate (0.01–5% FAB-H and FB-H, 0.01–1% TM-H, or 0.01–0.1% GB-H) promoted cell proliferation in media containing 10% FBS. Furthermore, 0.01 and 0.1% of FAB-H, FB-H, and TM-H were able to replace up to 50% of FBS while maintaining proliferation and differentiation capacity. Notably, 0.1% of FB-H and TM-H in 50% FBS-reduced media further enhanced differentiation compared to 10% FBS media. However, further investigations are required to improve the effects of these hydrolysates on the long-term culture of pig muscle stem cells. Nevertheless, the partial FBS replacement with edible and cost-effective natural materials (FAB-H, FB-H, and TM-H) could significantly help reduce the cost of cultured meat significantly.