Chemical Analysis of an Edible African Termite, Macrotermes nigeriensis; a Potential Antidote to Food Security Problem

Abstract

Macrotermes nigeriensis is a gregarious termite that is eaten as a delicacy in different parts of Nigeria and several other African countries. The concentrations of proximate, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids of the termite were determined using standard methods. The following major nutrients were identified: proteins (20.94 ± 0.08%), carbohydrates (20.74 ± 0.00%) and lipids (34.23 ± 0.83%); the minerals included potassium (3360.00 mg/kg), sodium (1120.00 mg/kg), iron (9.56 mg/kg) and zinc (0.97 mg/kg); the vitamins were ascorbic acid (17.76 ± 1.60 mg/100g), niacin (2.74 ± 0.02 mg/100g) and riboflavin (1.56 ± 0.02 mg/100g); and the fatty acids were oleic acid (52.45 ± 0.58%), palmitic acid (31.39 ± 0.92%) and linoleic acid (7.57 ± 0.16%). The high fat content of the termite was made up mainly of unsaturated fatty acids (60.64%), consisting of 53.07% monounsaturated and 7.57% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results indicate that this delicacy is a potentially rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids that may be necessary for combating protein energy related disease conditions prevalent in developing countries of the world.