Oecophylla Smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formacidae) and Odontotermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae) a Potential Source of Antioxodant: The Two Most Preferred Edible Insects of Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Antioxidant potential of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina (adult & brood) and termite odontotermes sp, the two common species of insects used as food by tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere in India. Our findings highlight the antioxidant potential of these two insects. DPPH scavenging activity IC50 (µg/ml) ranged from 59.559 (ant adult) to 66.30 (termite). Termite species scored higher ABTS scavenging activity (IC50: µg/ml), Ferric reducing power (TPEE µg/g) and phenols (mg GAE/g) (18.70, 36.60 and 626.92) than weaver ant adult (52.57, 211.21 and 369.69) and ant brood (33.34, 114.32, 486.04). On the other hand, ant adult scored higher flavonoid (mg RTE/g) (663.4) than its brood (387.2) and termite species (58.0). Ant brood contained substantial amounts of phenols and flavonoid, comparatively higher than phenols of ant adult and flavonoid of termite. These two insects may serve as an ideal dietary food supplement for handling oxidative stress and as replacement for some conventional food products. However, further study is needed to find out the bio-active compound at individual species level.