Chemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activity of the Fungus-Growing Termite Strain <i>Macrotermes Bellicosus</i> Used in Traditional Medicine in the Republic of Benin
Dima Hammoud Mahdi,
Jane Hubert,
Jean-Hugues Renault,
Agathe Martinez,
Andreas Schubert,
Kathrin Monika Engel,
Blaise Koudogbo,
Zacharie Vissiennon,
Virgile Ahyi,
Karen Nieber,
Cica Vissiennon
Affiliations
Dima Hammoud Mahdi
Inter-Regional University of Industrial Engineering Biotechnologies and Applied Sciences, IRGIB Africa, Cotonou 07 BP 231, Benin
Jane Hubert
CNRS ICMR UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims CEDEX 2, France
Jean-Hugues Renault
CNRS ICMR UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims CEDEX 2, France
Agathe Martinez
CNRS ICMR UMR 7312, Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687 Reims CEDEX 2, France
Andreas Schubert
Fraunhofer IZI, Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstraße 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Kathrin Monika Engel
Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstr 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
Blaise Koudogbo
Inter-Regional University of Industrial Engineering Biotechnologies and Applied Sciences, IRGIB Africa, Cotonou 07 BP 231, Benin
Zacharie Vissiennon
Inter-Regional University of Industrial Engineering Biotechnologies and Applied Sciences, IRGIB Africa, Cotonou 07 BP 231, Benin
Virgile Ahyi
Inter-Regional University of Industrial Engineering Biotechnologies and Applied Sciences, IRGIB Africa, Cotonou 07 BP 231, Benin
Karen Nieber
Medical Faculty, Institute of Pharmacy, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Cica Vissiennon
Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, Härtelstr 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
The fungus growing termite species Macrotermes bellicosus (M. bellicosus) is used in nutrition and traditional medicine in the Republic of Benin for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Previous findings demonstrated evidence of anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic properties of M. bellicosus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of different extracts of M. bellicosus samples and determine the chemical profile of an ethanolic M. bellicosus extract. Chemical profiling was conducted using centrifugal partition chromatography and 13C-NMR, followed by MALDI-TOF MS. Major identified compounds include hydroquinone (HQ), methylhydroquinone (MHQ), 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl glycol (DHPG), N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and niacinamide. The fatty acid mixture of the extract was mainly composed of linoleic and oleic acid and highlights the nutritional purpose of M. bellicosus. Using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion and broth microdilution assay, an antibacterial activity of M. bellicosus samples was observed against various clinical strains with a highest growth inhibition of S. aureus. In addition, HQ and MHQ as well as fractions containing DHPG, niacinamide and NADA inhibited S. aureus growth. The reported antimicrobial activity of M. bellicosus and identified active substances provide a rationale for the traditional medicinal use of M. bellicosus.
