In
Nigeria, termites are usually roasted and eaten as food, mostly during the
rainy season.
But
can termites be the next therapeutic resource for the treatment of asthma,
hoarseness and sinusitis, wounds, malnutrition, nutrient deficiency, sickness
of pregnant women and as a charm for spiritual protection?
Recent
studies suggest that, in addition to their ecological importance, termites are
a source of medicinal and food resources to various human populations in
various locations of the world, showing their potential for being used as an
alternative protein source in human or livestock diets, as well as a source for
new medicines.
Nigerian
researchers have determined the nutrient composition and the toxicant level of
the commonly eaten termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) castes in Niger-Delta
region of Nigeria.
Macrotermes
bellicosus are known to the Ibos as Aku; to the Hausa as Khiyea; Esusun in
Yoruba; and Ebu in Annang.
The
study titled “Evaluation of Nutritional Value of Termites (Macrotermes
bellicosus): Soldiers, Workers, and Queen in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria” was published in International Journal of Food Nutrition and Safety.
bellicosus): Soldiers, Workers, and Queen in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria” was published in International Journal of Food Nutrition and Safety.
The
researchers include: A. I. Ntukuyoh, D. S. Udiong, E. Ikpe, and A. E. Akpa Kpan
of the Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Queen,
soldiers and workers of termites (Macrotermes bellicosus) were
analyzed for proximate composition, vitamin, mineral elements and anti-nutrient content.
analyzed for proximate composition, vitamin, mineral elements and anti-nutrient content.
Proximate
composition showed that crude protein content of the soldiers was higher than
those of workers and Queen. The highest mineral element was sodium in queen,
while the least mineral was manganese in the soldiers. The termites were rich
in vitamins A and C. Workers termites had the highest vitamin C content, while
Queen had the highest vitamin A content. Anti-nutrient compositions in
Macrotermes bellicosus were considerably low.
Macortermes
bellicosus constitute a significant component of diet among the people of the
Niger-Delta region in Nigeria.
A
number of insect and their products are used as food items in some parts of
Nigeria and to a large extent eaten as tit bits or exclusively by children.
Insects have played an important role in the history of human nutrition and it
is probable that the first hominids in African were eating insects. Insects
including termites are good sources of protein with high fat content (and thus
energy) and many important minerals and vitamins.
In
assessing the nutritive value or food value of termites, its anti-nutrient
content, mineral element and lipids characteristics are considered to assess
whether termites are nutritive or not.
Phytic
acid is one of the important parameter that makes-up anti-nutrients in living organism
and it interfere with utilization of manganese, iron and calcium. It inhibits
the absorption of iron, zinc and calcium, and the deficiencies of these
elements cause Anamia osteomalacia and even rickets.
Phytic
acid content of termite (adult) winged stands out as the only nutritional
factor that would contradict our recommendation for heavy consumption and food
fortification of insects. This is general for most tropical insects including
termites and has been implicated for growth inhibition in day old chicks. In
man the surplus consumption of the inorganic mineral (magnesium (Mg), calcium
(Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) which are sequestered by phytic acid would
circumvent the deficiency anticipated.
Lethal
dose of oxalic acid has been reported as 2.5 g, and a person in western Nigeria
may consume 11.6 g of oxalate, it therefore means that without detoxication, it
would not be safe to consume them due to oxalate toxication.
Termites
can be used as food for non-human primates. Suzuki (1966) described insect
eating primarily ants and termites by wild chimpanzees in cites of Tanzania,
and other studies were on the eating of insects by chimpanzees, Japanese
monkeys and baboons. Termites are eaten in several parts of Nigeria and it is
also used for rituals and medicinal purposes.
In
India termites and even its termitaria have medicinal usages as termites based
medicinal companies are established. In East Africa, termite mounds are
considered so important that they are owned by individual and form part of his
inheritance when he dies.
Also,
a recent review has shown that termites are commonly used insects in
traditional popular medicine. They are used in the treatment of various
diseases that affect humans, such as influenza, asthma, bronchitis, whooping
cough, sinusitis, tonsillitis and hoarseness.
The
study titled “Edible and medicinal termites: a global overview” was published
in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine and BioMed Central.
According
to the study, additionally, these animals have historically been an important
source of food that may contribute to improving human diet, particularly for
people who suffer from malnutrition due to a deficit of protein, as they are
considered a non-conventional food with great economic and social importance.
They have been consumed for generations in many regions of the world, a
practice that has increased in popularity in recent years.
For
medicinal purposes, the use of ten species of termites was recorded. These
species are used as an alternative treatment for physiological and spiritual
problems. The species Nasutitermes macrocephalus was the most frequently
recorded, and it is widely used in Brazil as a therapeutic resource for the
treatment of asthma, hoarseness and sinusitis, among other diseases. Another
example is Macrotermes nigeriensis, which is used in Nigeria in the treatment
of wounds, sickness of pregnant women and as a charm for spiritual protection.
The
use of termites as a therapeutic resource also revealed an important mode of
use of these animals. Evidence of antimicrobial activity of products isolated
from these animals has been reported, such as peptides like espinigerine and
termicine, isolated from Pseudocanthotermes spiniger, which showed antifungal
and antibacterial activities.
Culled
from the Guardian Newspaper!!
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