The Utilization of Chitosan from Maggot (Hermetia illucens) Exuvia as Edible Coating for Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Edible Film with the Addition of Honey as an Antibacterial Agent
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Keywords:
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Chitin, Chitosan, Hermetia illucens, Edible Coating, Edible Film
Abstract
The use of chitosan from maggot (Hermetia illucens) exuvia as an edible coating for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and an edible film with honey added as an antibacterial agent was investigated. This study aimed to determine the yield of chitosan from black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) maggot exuviae as an edible coating. The chitosan was produced from chitin by deacetylation, and its effect on the weight loss and vitamin C levels of tomatoes for 7 days after treatment was investigated. The chitosan coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using a disk diffusion method. The result showed that by deacetylation, conversion of chitin produced chitosan with a yield of 72% and a deacetylation degree of 75.05%. The chitosan coating significantly affected the weight loss of tomatoes, with the best concentration being 2%. However, the treatment did not significantly affect the decrease in vitamin C levels. The edible chitosan film from BSF maggot exuviae with added honey had a thickness, water content, and water vapor transmission rate of 0.156 mm, 16.9913%, and 30.45 g/m2/24 hours, respectively. SEM characterization showed a relatively dense surface structure, which was slightly smooth and porous. Regarding antibacterial activity, the edible chitosan film inhibited Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibition zone of 10.37 mm; however, Escherichia coli was not inhibited. These results suggest that chitosan from BSF maggot exuviae has potential as an effective edible coating for reducing weight loss in tomatoes despite showing limited antibacterial properties.
References
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Miksusanti, S. I., D. P. Wijaya, and N. Asriah (2022). Antibacterial Edible Coating of Ipomea Batatas Incorporated with Lactobacillus acidophilus. Rafflesia Journal of Natural and Applied Science, 2(2); 135–146
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Nasution, N. A. and M. Idris (2023). Use of Various Types of Chitosan as Edible Coating to Maintain Physical Quality of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) During Storage at Two Different Temperatures. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 23(2); 565–574
Noviyanto, H. Widjajanti, and Elfita (2025). Biodiversity and Analysis of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Extracts Isolated from Mangrove Avicennia marina. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(1); 139–151
Popescu, P.-A., L. M. Palade, I.-C. Nicolae, E. E. Popa, A. C. Mitelut, M. C. Drăghici, and M. E. Popa (2022). Chitosan-Based Edible Coatings Containing Essential Oils to Preserve the Shelf Life and Postharvest Quality Parameters of Organic Strawberries and Apples During Cold Storage. Foods, 11(21); 3317
Rachmawaty, R., S. Sahribulan, S. E. Putri, and W. F. Arisma (2023). Formation of Chitosan from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Pupae Using Microwaves Radiation Energy. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 8(2); 1173–1180
Reshad, R. A. I., T. A. Jishan, and N. N. Chowdhury (2021). Chitosan and Its Broad Applications: A Brief Review. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations, 12(4)
Sanchez-Ortega, I., B. E. Garcia-Almendarez, E. M. Santos-Lopez, A. Amaro-Reyes, J. E. Barboza-Corona, and C. Regalado (2014). Antimicrobial Edible Films and Coatings for Meat and Meat Products Preservation. Scientific World Journal, 2014; 248935
Santi, S. S., A. P. K. Hariyanto, and M. D. Hartono (2020). Synthesis of Edible Film from Crab Shell Chitosan and Banana Peel Starch. In Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings. pages 158–164
Shakoori, Z., E. Salaseh, A. R. Mehrabian, D. M. Tehrani, N. F. Dardashti, and F. Salmanpour (2024). The Amount of Antioxidants in Honey Has a Strong Relationship with the Plants Selected by Honey Bees. Scientific Reports, 14(1); 351
Siddiqui, S. A., L. van Greunen, A. Zeiri, B. Yudhistira, A. Ahmad, and M. Monnye (2024). The Potential of Chitin and Chitosan from Dead Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) for Biodegradable Packaging Material - A Critical Review. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 189; 1342–1367
Sree, K. P., M. S. Sree, P. Supriya, and Samreen (2020). Application of Chitosan Edible Coating for Preservation of Tomato. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 8(4); 3281–3285
Sulaeman, R., R. R. Z. D. W. Putri, R. Damayanti, F. Fauzan, M. R. Hadiyan, and Y. Maharani (2024). Characterization of Eco-Friendly Straw Based on Chitosan from Pupae Exuviae of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). AgriHealth: Journal of Agri-Food, Nutrition and Public Health, 5(2); 92–100
Suriati, L., I. G. Pasek Mangku, G. A. S. Widya Krisnawati, and A. A. Ngurah Surya Girindra (2023). The Impact of Chitosan at the Physical Performance of the Coffee Skin-Based Edible Film. Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 92; 156–163
Tampubolon, Y. K., Z. N., and E. Alawiyah (2023). Edible Coating Chitosan as an Antimicrobial in the Thawing Process of Frozen Broiler Chicken Carcasses with Different Shelf Life. Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran, 23(2); 138–146
Thambiliyagodage, C., M. Jayanetti, A. Mendis, G. Ekanayake, H. Liyanaarachchi, and S. Vigneswaran (2023). Recent Advances in Chitosan-Based Applications – A Review. Materials (Basel), 16(5)
Utama, N. A., R. Ernawati, and P. C. Pramesi (2022). The Improvement of Tomato Shelf Life Using Chitosan and Starfruit Leaf Extract as Edible Coatings. Journal of Horticultural Research, 30(1); 77–86
Wang, M., G. Buist, and J. M. van Dijl (2022). Staphylococcus aureus Cell Wall Maintenance The Multifaceted Roles of Peptidoglycan Hydrolases in Bacterial Growth, Fitness, and Virulence. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 46(5); fuac025
Xia, Y., D. Wang, D. Liu, J. Su, Y. Jin, D. Wang, and B. Liu (2022). Applications of Chitosan and Its Derivatives in Skin and Soft Tissue Diseases. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10; 894667
Yadav, A., N. Kumar, A. Upadhyay, S. Sethi, and A. Singh (2022). Edible Coating As Postharvest Management Strategy for Shelf-Life Extension of Fresh Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.): An Overview. Journal of Food Science, 87(6); 2256–2290
Abral, H., A. B. Pratama, D. Handayani, M. Mahardika, I. Aminah, N. Sandrawati, and R. A. Ilyas (2021). Antimicrobial Edible Film Prepared from Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers/Starch/Chitosan for a Food Packaging Alternative. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2021(1); 6641284
Al-Musawi, S., S. Albukhaty, H. Al-Karagoly, G. M. Sulaiman, M. S. Alwahibi, Y. H. Dewir, and H. Rizwana (2020). Antibacterial Activity of Honey/Chitosan Nanofibers Loaded with Capsaicin and Gold Nanoparticles for Wound Dressing. Molecules, 25(20); 4770
Alemu, D., E. Getachew, and A. K. Mondal (2023). Study on the Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan and Their Applications in the Biomedical Sector. International Journal of Polymer Science, 2023(1); 5025341
Aparna, M. and L. P. R. Geetha (2024). Chitosan Based Edible Coatings: Enhancing Shelf Life and Quality in Fruits and Vegetables. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology, 27(11); 178–191
Aranaz, I., A. R. Alcantara, M. C. Civera, C. Arias, B. Elorza, A. Heras Caballero, and N. Acosta (2021). Chitosan: An Overview of Its Properties and Applications. Polymers (Basel), 13(19)
Bhavsar, P. S., G. Dalla Fontana, and M. Zoccola (2021). Sustainable Superheated Water Hydrolysis of Black Soldier Fly Exuviae for Chitin Extraction and Use of the Obtained Chitosan in the Textile Field. ACS Omega, 6(13); 8884–8893
Budiati, T., W. Suryaningsih, A. Wahyono, and S. O. N. Yudiastuti (2024). Characterization of Chitosan Nanoparticles Extracted from Maggot Shell and Paddy Snail Waste Using the Ionic Gelation Method. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, volume 1338. page 012052
Chawla, R., S. Sivakumar, and H. Kaur (2021). Antimicrobial Edible Films in Food Packaging: Current Scenario and Recent Nanotechnological Advancements–A Review. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 2; 100024
El-Araby, A., W. Janati, R. Ullah, S. Ercisli, and F. Errachidi (2023). Chitosan, Chitosan Derivatives, and Chitosan-Based Nanocomposites: Eco-Friendly Materials for Advanced Applications (A Review). Frontiers in Chemistry, 11; 1327426
Elsabagh, R., S. S. Ibrahim, E. M. Abd-Elaaty, A. Abdeen, A. M. Rayan, S. F. Ibrahim, and M. K. Morsy (2023). Chitosan Edible Coating: A Potential Control of Toxic Biogenic Amines and Enhancing the Quality and Shelf Life of Chilled Tuna Filets. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7; 1177010
Fatullayeva, S., D. Tagiyev, N. Zeynalov, S. Mammadova, and E. Aliyeva (2022). Recent Advances of Chitosan-Based Polymers in Biomedical Applications and Environmental Protection. Journal of Polymer Research, 29(7); 259
Hahn, T., L. Bossog, T. Hager, W. Wunderlich, R. Breier, T. Stegmaier, and S. Zibek (2019). Chitosan Application in Textile Processing and Fabric Coating. In Chitin and Chitosan. pages 395–428
Huang, L., L. Xiao, and G. Yang (2018). Chitosan Application in Textile Processing. Current Trends in Fashion Technology & Textile Engineering, 4(2); 32–34
Kaczor, M., P. Bulak, K. Proc-Pietrycha, M. Kirichenko-Babko, and A. Bieganowski (2023). The Variety of Applications of Hermetia illucens in Industrial and Agricultural Areas—Review. Biology, 12(1); 25
Kedir, W. M., G. F. Abdi, M. M. Goro, and L. D. Tolesa (2022). Pharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Applications of Chitosan Biopolymer and Its Modified Nanocomposite: A Review. Heliyon, 8(8); e10196
Kusumawati, R., Syamdidi, A. H. D. Abdullah, R. C. Nissa, B. Firdiana, R. Handayani, and S. Wibowo (2025). Physical Properties of Biodegradable Chitosan-Cassava Starch Based Bioplastic Film Mechanics. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(1); 191–200
Lam, W. S., W. H. Lam, and P. F. Lee (2023). The Studies on Chitosan for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis. Materials (Basel), 16(7); 2857
Miksusanti, S. I., D. P. Wijaya, and N. Asriah (2022). Antibacterial Edible Coating of Ipomea Batatas Incorporated with Lactobacillus acidophilus. Rafflesia Journal of Natural and Applied Science, 2(2); 135–146
Mora-López, D. S. d. l., T. J. Madera-Santana, J. López-Cervantes, D. I. Sánchez-Machado, J. F. Ayala-Zavala, and H. Soto-Valdez (2023). Development and Characterization of Chitosan-Collagen Films Loaded with Honey. Polímeros, 33(3); e20230028
Muñoz-Tebar, N., J. A. Pérez-Álvarez, J. Fernández-López, and M. Viuda-Martos (2023). Chitosan Edible Films and Coatings with Added Bioactive Compounds: Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties and Their Application to Food Products: A Review. Polymers, 15(2); 396
Nasution, N. A. and M. Idris (2023). Use of Various Types of Chitosan as Edible Coating to Maintain Physical Quality of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon L.) During Storage at Two Different Temperatures. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 23(2); 565–574
Noviyanto, H. Widjajanti, and Elfita (2025). Biodiversity and Analysis of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Fungi Extracts Isolated from Mangrove Avicennia marina. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(1); 139–151
Popescu, P.-A., L. M. Palade, I.-C. Nicolae, E. E. Popa, A. C. Mitelut, M. C. Drăghici, and M. E. Popa (2022). Chitosan-Based Edible Coatings Containing Essential Oils to Preserve the Shelf Life and Postharvest Quality Parameters of Organic Strawberries and Apples During Cold Storage. Foods, 11(21); 3317
Rachmawaty, R., S. Sahribulan, S. E. Putri, and W. F. Arisma (2023). Formation of Chitosan from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Pupae Using Microwaves Radiation Energy. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 8(2); 1173–1180
Reshad, R. A. I., T. A. Jishan, and N. N. Chowdhury (2021). Chitosan and Its Broad Applications: A Brief Review. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations, 12(4)
Sanchez-Ortega, I., B. E. Garcia-Almendarez, E. M. Santos-Lopez, A. Amaro-Reyes, J. E. Barboza-Corona, and C. Regalado (2014). Antimicrobial Edible Films and Coatings for Meat and Meat Products Preservation. Scientific World Journal, 2014; 248935
Santi, S. S., A. P. K. Hariyanto, and M. D. Hartono (2020). Synthesis of Edible Film from Crab Shell Chitosan and Banana Peel Starch. In Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings. pages 158–164
Shakoori, Z., E. Salaseh, A. R. Mehrabian, D. M. Tehrani, N. F. Dardashti, and F. Salmanpour (2024). The Amount of Antioxidants in Honey Has a Strong Relationship with the Plants Selected by Honey Bees. Scientific Reports, 14(1); 351
Siddiqui, S. A., L. van Greunen, A. Zeiri, B. Yudhistira, A. Ahmad, and M. Monnye (2024). The Potential of Chitin and Chitosan from Dead Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) for Biodegradable Packaging Material - A Critical Review. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 189; 1342–1367
Sree, K. P., M. S. Sree, P. Supriya, and Samreen (2020). Application of Chitosan Edible Coating for Preservation of Tomato. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 8(4); 3281–3285
Sulaeman, R., R. R. Z. D. W. Putri, R. Damayanti, F. Fauzan, M. R. Hadiyan, and Y. Maharani (2024). Characterization of Eco-Friendly Straw Based on Chitosan from Pupae Exuviae of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). AgriHealth: Journal of Agri-Food, Nutrition and Public Health, 5(2); 92–100
Suriati, L., I. G. Pasek Mangku, G. A. S. Widya Krisnawati, and A. A. Ngurah Surya Girindra (2023). The Impact of Chitosan at the Physical Performance of the Coffee Skin-Based Edible Film. Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 92; 156–163
Tampubolon, Y. K., Z. N., and E. Alawiyah (2023). Edible Coating Chitosan as an Antimicrobial in the Thawing Process of Frozen Broiler Chicken Carcasses with Different Shelf Life. Jurnal Ilmu Ternak Universitas Padjadjaran, 23(2); 138–146
Thambiliyagodage, C., M. Jayanetti, A. Mendis, G. Ekanayake, H. Liyanaarachchi, and S. Vigneswaran (2023). Recent Advances in Chitosan-Based Applications – A Review. Materials (Basel), 16(5)
Utama, N. A., R. Ernawati, and P. C. Pramesi (2022). The Improvement of Tomato Shelf Life Using Chitosan and Starfruit Leaf Extract as Edible Coatings. Journal of Horticultural Research, 30(1); 77–86
Wang, M., G. Buist, and J. M. van Dijl (2022). Staphylococcus aureus Cell Wall Maintenance The Multifaceted Roles of Peptidoglycan Hydrolases in Bacterial Growth, Fitness, and Virulence. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 46(5); fuac025
Xia, Y., D. Wang, D. Liu, J. Su, Y. Jin, D. Wang, and B. Liu (2022). Applications of Chitosan and Its Derivatives in Skin and Soft Tissue Diseases. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10; 894667
Yadav, A., N. Kumar, A. Upadhyay, S. Sethi, and A. Singh (2022). Edible Coating As Postharvest Management Strategy for Shelf-Life Extension of Fresh Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.): An Overview. Journal of Food Science, 87(6); 2256–2290
Authors
Daniel, Sitorus, S. ., Pasaribu, S. P. ., Marliana, E. ., Hairani, R. ., Ruga, R. ., Purba, R. ., Saleh, C. ., Pratiwi, D. R. ., Magdaleni, . A. R., Masmur, I. ., & Masmur, H. (2025). The Utilization of Chitosan from Maggot (Hermetia illucens) Exuvia as Edible Coating for Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Edible Film with the Addition of Honey as an Antibacterial Agent. Science and Technology Indonesia, 10(4), 1232–1241. https://doi.org/10.26554/sti.2025.10.4.1232-1241
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