Chemical and bioactive potential of the nests of Polistes nimpha, Polistes dominula, and Vespa crabro (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Abstract

This work was accomplished to establish the chemical components and bioactivity potential of the nest materials of Polistes nimpha (Christ), Polistes dominula (Christ), and Vespa crabro (L.). The biological and chemical compounds of materials and their molecular functionalities were detected using FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) method, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical method, and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis. Finally, the bioactivity potentials of nest extracts were assayed and phenolic components were determined. C, N, O, Na, Ca, K, Mg, Al, Si are the elemental components of the nest materials. All nest extracts of three species had high biological activity against nine bacteria and one fungus causing common infections. The maximum antibacterial and antifungal activity was seen when gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, gram-positive Bacillus cereus, and gram-positive Candida albicans were exposed to ethanol extracts of nest samples in 25 μL. High antioxidant activity can be found in the nest extracts. These extracts might help researchers find novel antifungal and antibacterial substances.

Keywords

• European hornet
• Paper wasp
• Nest
• Chemical properties
• Bioactivity

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