Nutrition, Safety, Health Functional Effects, and Availability of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Drone Pupae

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In July 2020, honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae were registered as food ingredients in Korea. According to previous studies, this material has carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and contains amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, and is promising as an alternative food source. Prior studies have empirically demonstrated the microbiological and chemical safety of honeybee drone pupae. The health functional effects of this material have also been documented. This review describes the nutritional composition, safety, functionality, and availability of honeybee drone pupae reported so far. However, a comparison of the nutritional components of major livestock and other edible insects with those of honeybee pupae is needed. Future studies should continue to assess the allergic, parasitic, and other chemical hazards of honeybee drone pupae to ensure safety against unidentified hazards and investigate the functionality of honeybee drone pupae according to the criteria of traditional eastern medical texts. The review contributes to the literature because the citations it examined all empirically demonstrated and confirmed the nutritional value, food safety, and possible medicinal efficacy of honeybee drone pupa. This information could help increase profitability, improve apiary production sustainability, and generate alternative food and medicine sources. ABSTRACT: Since ancient times, honeybee drone pupae have been used as food and for medicinal purposes in Asia, the United States, and Europe. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae have been registered as food ingredients in Korea. This material is promising as an alternative food source. It has carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and contains various amino acids and fatty acids as well as minerals and vitamins. Prior studies have empirically demonstrated the microbiological and chemical safety of honeybee drone pupae. The health functional effects of this material have been documented as well. However, to the best of my knowledge, no review has been conducted on the published studies to date. This review aimed to summarize the research findings on honeybee drone pupae thus far. Online databases were searched according to the selection criteria, duplicate reports were excluded, and 22 eligible articles were reviewed. Conclusionally, it was confirmed that honeybee drone pupae have various nutritional components, safety as a food and cosmetic material, and various available possibilities, but more systematic studies are needed to increase their consumption. Therefore, it is believed that this synopsis will help guide future research on honeybee drone pupae.