Effect of the subterranean termite used in the South Indian folk medicine

Abstract

The present investigation reports the effect of the termite, <i style="">Odontotermes formosanus </i>Shiraki, most commonly used by the South Indian tribes as food for enhancing lactation in women, on growth and reproduction in Swiss albino mice, <i style="">Mus musculus</i> Linn. Dietary supplementation with termite to Swiss albino mice significantly increased the percentage growth rate and number of litters delivered, when compared to the control groups fed with normal rodent pellets. The percentage growth rate of experimental male and female mice fed on<i style=""> Odontotermes formosanus</i> Shiraki showed a significant increase (P<0.01), when compared to the respective control groups. Results on litter production revealed a 22% increase in the experimental groups supplemented with termite, when compared to the control groups. The present results suggest that termite can be used as a viable protein rich feed. Studies on termite culture on a commercial scale and its use, as an alternative protein rich feed for poultry would probably go a long way.