MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples: The termites are the same species of Bellicositermes natalenis Haviland obtained from two origins: Sangha and Plateaux-Cuvette, respectively named termites S and termites PC. A sample was bought at the market in Brazzaville Congo on 2005 September. Termites were transported to the laboratory where they were conserved at -18°C.

Extraction of Bellicositermes natalenis oil: Three individual 10 g samples of dry termites of each origin were refluxed with 300 mL of chloroform in weighed flasks using a Soxhlet apparatus according to AACC (1987) method. The fat matter of the termites has been extracted with the help of a Soxhlet equipped with extraction cartridges in cellulose. The termites ground, with the help of a homogenizer to knives, have been submitted to an extraction under ebullition of chloroform during 9 h. The oils were recovered by distilling the solvent in a rotary evaporator at 45°C, then dried to constant weight in a vacuum oven at 90°C for 1 h and weighed.

Extraction of phytosterol oxides: Extraction of phytosterol oxides was carried out as previously described (Zhang et al., 2005b), taking advantage of the previously synthesized standards of phytosterol oxides (Zhang et al., 2005a). Briefly, a 200 mg oil sample was spiked with a 19-hydroxycholesterol solution (20 μL, 1 mg mL^-1 in ethyl acetate) as an internal standard. After removal of the solvent with a gentle flow of nitrogen, the sample was dissolved in a mixture of ethanol (9 mL) and a saturated aqueous KOH solution (0.5 mL) before it was submitted to an overnight (15 h) soft saponification at room temperature. The unsaponifiable fraction was extracted with diethyl ether and the oxides were separated from the matrix using a Solid-phase Extraction (SPE) silica gel cartridge and converted to Trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers with pyridine (50 μL) and N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), 40 μL. Extraction steps were done in brown bottles and at room temperature. Analysis of 1 μL samples was carried out using a GC-MS chromatograph as described below.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis: GC-MC analysis was carried out as described by Zhang et al. (2005b). GC-MS analyses were performed on a Varian Star 3400 GC instrument equipped with an on-column SPI injector coupled to a Varian Saturn 2000 mass sensitive detector (Varian, France) operating in the Electron Impact (EI) ionization mode at 70 eV and monitored on the full-scan range (m/z 40-600). Data acquisition and processing and instrumental control were performed by Varian Saturn WS software. Analytes were separated in a VF-5 ms capillary column (phase stationary: 5% phenyl-95% dimethyl polysiloxane, thickness of 0.1 μm, 60 mx0.25 mm, Varian, France). The column temperature gradient was programmed from 105°C (hold for 2 min) to 170°C at 20°C min^-1 and then, to 320°C at 7°C min^-1 (hold for 15 min). The injector operating conditions were as follows: injection volume 1 μL; initial injector temperature of 105°C was increased to 300°C at 100°C min^-1 (hold for 40 min). Helium (purity 99.9995%) was used as a carrier gas with a flow rate of 1 mL min^-1.

Quantitative data were carried out using Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) analysis. The analytes were quantified as previously reported (Zhang et al., 2005b).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Identification and quantitative determination of β-sitosterol oxides were carried out in oil of Bellicositermes natalensis Haviland from two regions of the Congo. The total amount of their sitosterol oxides varied from 29.1 to 39.1 μg g^-1 of oil from these edible insects. This animal oil has proved to contain phytosterol oxides which are generally present in vegetable matter. β-sitosterol oxides composition of the oil and their amount in μg g^-1 are presented in Table 1. Sitosterol oxides in oil of termites found were: 5,6β-epoxysitosterol, 10.3 and 12.5 μg g^-1; followed by 7α-hydroxysitosterol, 6.4 and 10.0 μg g^-1; 7β-hydroxysitosterol, 5.2 and 9.3 μg g^-1; 5α,6β-dihydroxysitosterol, 3.2 and 4.3 μg g^-1; 5,6α-epoxysitosterol, 2.0 and 4.0 μg g^-1 and 7-ketositosterol, 2.0 and 3.3 μg g^-1, respectively for termites PC and termites S.

Table 1:	Concentration of β-sitosterol oxides in oil of termites from two origins
Values are Mean±SD

This finding was already observed in edible vegetable oils by Zhang et al. (2005b, 2006b). Therein the authors showed that β-sitosterol oxides were present and total amount was reported to be 9.6 μg g^-1 for sunflower oil, 0.8 μg g^-1 for soybean oil, 0.1 μg g^-1 for olive oil and 1.9 μg g^-1 for rapeseed oil. In the animal material, the subject of this study, the total amount of β-sitosterol oxides was 29.1 μg g^-1 for termites PC and 39.1 μg g^-1 for termites S. Termites S contained more oxidized phytosterol then termites PC. This observation suggested that smoking procedure occurred with more oxidation than sun drying. Previous studies of experimental oxidation of edible oils have been reported. Zhang et al. (2005b) have been shown that temperature could increase β-sitosterol oxides in oils. More oxidizing compounds were found under sunlight exposure than under UV light exposure, Zhang et al. (2006b). The present study showed that termite’s oil contained more β-sitosterol oxides (29.1 to 39.1 μg g^-1) than edible vegetable oils previously reported. The reason of variation between the chemical compositions of oils of termites PC and S may depend on climatic, geographic conditions, harvest drying procedure.

In our knowledge, sitosterol oxides, therefore phytosterols, are reported for the first time in oil of animal. The high amount of these oxides and the high importance of their biological properties showed that, oil of termites must be chemically characterized and biologically evaluated. Further study must be done to determine phytosterol and phytosterol oxides in fresh termites for a comprehensive study.

CONCLUSION

5,6β-epoxysitosterol, 7α-hydroxysitosterol, 7β-hydroxysitosterol, 5α,6β-dihydroxysitosterol, 5,6α-epoxysitosterol and 7-ketositosterol were identified and quantitatively determined in oil of Bellicositermes natalensis Haviland. This study demonstrated for the first time that phytosterol oxides may be present in some animal oils. Under normal conditions of production and conservation, it has been shown that termites contained more sitosterol oxides than edible vegetable oils previously reported. Large amount of these compounds in termites suggested that much attention must be done for evaluation of risk because biological effects and safety aspects of phytosterol oxides are still unclear.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to the «Laboratoire d’Innovation Thérapeutique and Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique des Molécules Bioactives; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74 route du Rhin, 67400 Illkirch France» for reception of Victor N’GOKA.