University-backed research has confirmed EntoPro™, a novel insect protein enriched with mushroom bioactive compounds for pet nutrition, developed by Proteine Resources. According to the announcement, scientists identified a unique bioactive profile in the alternative protein with fungal antioxidant markers.
Proteine Resources, a European innovator in sustainable pet nutrition ingredients, has announced that the newest research conducted in collaboration with AGH University confirms the unique properties of EntoPro™, a next-generation functional protein ingredient that combines the nutritional profile of animal protein with bioactive compounds typically found in mushrooms.
EntoPro™ is based on a proprietary patented process that transfers selected bioactive compounds from fungi into insect-derived protein, creating a unique category of functional ingredient for pet food and animal nutrition. According to the company, this approach enhances a measurable nutritional and functional difference compared with “conventional” insect protein.
A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN FUNCTIONAL COMPOUNDS
Newest analyses conducted by Proteine Resources with the AGH University of Science and Technology show that EntoPro™ contains not only a significantly higher level of selected bioactive compounds than the typical protein of the Buffalo mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), but also significant amounts of typical fungal compounds, normally found in trace amounts or absent altogether in animal proteins.
Bioactive Markers Defining EntoPro™:
· Natural antioxidant profile: Contains ergothioneine and ergosterol, molecules typically associated with fungal biology.
· Functional amino acid composition: Rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid involved in protein synthesis and physiological signalling pathways.
· Digestive interaction potential: Contains chitin, a structural polysaccharide functioning as dietary fiber interacting with gut microbiota.
EntoPro™ is not only the world’s first high content of typical mushroom ingredients in insect meat. It also transfers and increases the content of selected vitamins as well as macro- and micronutrients found in mushrooms, particularly B vitamins (vit. B1 +75%, B2 +90%, B3 nicotinic acid +200%), potassium – content increased by 6.7%, calcium – 69%, manganese – 12%, iron – 37.6%, zinc – 10.4% (with regard to Buffalo mealworm not fed with mushrooms sidestreams).i
A NEW CATEGORY OF FUNCTIONAL PROTEIN
Protein Resources states that the innovation lies in combining two biological systems – insects and fungi – into a single functional ingredient through a proprietary fully natural environmental engineering process.
“EntoPro™ represents a real qualitative leap, not just a cosmetic improvement. We believe this is the first ingredient that combines the amino-acid profile typical for animal protein, i.e., beef, with sterol and antioxidant markers characteristic of fungi in natural matrix,” said Konrad Włodarczyk, Founder and Co-CEO of Proteine Resources.
The company describes EntoPro™ as a natural synergy between two alternative protein sources: the nutritional quality associated with meat proteins and the functional bioactive properties of fungi.
DESIGNED FOR NEXT-GENERATION PET NUTRITION
The ingredient is being positioned primarily for the premium and private label pet food segment, where functional nutrition, digestibility, and sustainability are becoming key drivers of innovation.
With pet owners increasingly looking for products that support gut health, immunity, and overall well-being, ingredients combining high-quality protein and functional bioactives are gaining attention across the industry.
The company believes EntoPro™ can help pet food brands create products with stronger nutritional positioning and clearer benefits for pet parents.
PATENT-PENDING TECHNOLOGY
The production technology behind EntoPro™ is currently under patent protection, which the company believes will establish a unique position for the ingredient within the fast-growing alternative protein and pet food innovation ecosystem.
“The market is full of insect protein suppliers. What we are introducing is fundamentally different – a naturally enhanced ingredient with functional compounds rarely found in »conventional« insect protein,” adds Bartłomiej Roszkowski, Co-CEO and Co-Founder.
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR PET FOOD INNOVATORS
Proteine Resources is currently working with partners in the pet food industry to explore applications of EntoPro™ in functional formulations for cats and dogs, including gut-health-focused nutrition concepts. The company believes the ingredient may represent a new direction in the evolution of sustainable protein solutions.
Comparison table (values based on analytical testing; main substances):
| Compound | EntoPro™ | Typical A. diaperinus |
| Tryptophan | ~180–220 mg / 100 g DM | 40-60 mg / 100 g DMii |
| Ergothioneine | ~40–60 mg / 100 g DM | Less than 5 mg / 100 g DMiii |
| Ergosterol | ~45–55 mg / 100 g DM | Trace or absentiv |
| Chitin | ~12% DM (modified structure) | Typically 6-9% DMv |
Compared with standard protein derived from insects larvae, EntoPro™ shows a distinctly different profile of bioactive compounds. Analytical results indicate:
· Tryptophan approx. 3–4 times higher levels than in standard Buffalo mealworm larvae. An essential amino acid that supports protein synthesis and serves as a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, helping regulate mood, stress response, appetite, and sleep patterns in dogs and cats.
· Melatonin – a naturally occurring compound associated with circadian biology, detected in EntoPro™ at measurable levels, whereas conventional insect protein typically contains only trace or non-detectable amounts.
· Ergothioneine – an antioxidant compound characteristic of fungal metabolism, typically present only in trace amounts in insects, but found in significantly higher concentrations in EntoPro™.
· Ergosterol – a sterol characteristic of fungi and a natural precursor of vitamin D₂, usually undetectable in conventional insect protein but present in EntoPro™ at clearly elevated levels.
· Chitin – a structural polysaccharide found in insect and fungal cell structures that functions as dietary fiber, present in EntoPro™ at approximately twice the level observed in conventional insect protein and exhibiting modified structural characteristics.
Together, these features create a distinctive bioactive profile for EntoPro™, combining high-quality insect protein with bioactive compounds typically associated with fungal biology.
[i] Results of internal comparative studies conducted by the company at the Jagiellonian University Medical College.
[ii] www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590157525011095
[iii] www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731125001892
[iv] www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731125001892
