SavedAdd your journal

Journals / International Journal of Secondary Metabolite / 2026 / Volume: 12 Issue: 1

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

Ömer Ertürk(ORDU UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5837-6893
Zehra Can(Bayburt Üniversitesi Uygulamalı Bilimler Fakültesi)0000-0002-9366-5110
Mustafa Yaman(BOLU ABANT IZZET BAYSAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5656-7266
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-02-20
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These extracts might help researchers find novel antifungal and antibacterial substances.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis: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.).
📊
Key Findings & Data: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.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These extracts might help researchers find novel antifungal and antibacterial substances.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:European hornet · Paper wasp · Nest

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.

Özet

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.

🔖

Cite This Article

Ertürk, Ö., Can, Z., Yaman, M. (2025). Chemical and bioactive potential of the nests of Polistes nimpha, Polistes dominula, and Vespa crabro (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, Volume: 12 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1505893

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (39)

  1. Anderson, K.E., Sheehan, T.H., Eckholm, B.J., Mott, B.M., & Degrandi-Hoffman, G. (2011). An emerging paradigm of colony health: Microbial balance of the honey bee and hive (Apis mellifera). Insectes Sociaux, 58(4), 431–444.
  2. Babu, K.S., Babu, T.H., Srinivas, P.V., Kishore, K.H., Murthy, U.S.N., & Rao, J.M. (2006). Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel C(7) modified chrysin analogs as antibacterial agents. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 16(11), 221–224.
  3. Bağriaçık, N. (2013a). Some structural features of nest materials of Polistes nimpha (Christ, 1791) in several ecological conditions (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Journal of the Entomological Research Society, 15(3), 1–7.
  4. Bağriaçık, N. (2013b). Some structural features of the nest materials of Dolichovespula sylvestris (Scopoli, 1763) and Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Journal of Selçuk University Natural and Applied Science, 1(1), 893–902.
  5. Bağriaçık, N. (2011). Determination of some structural features of the nest paper of Vespa orientalis Linnaeus and Vespa crabro Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in Türkiye. Archives of Biological Sciences, 63(2), 449–455.
  6. Bağriaçık, N. (2012). Comparison of the nest materials of Polistes gallicus (L.), Polistes dominulus (Christ), and Polistes nimpha (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Archives of Biological Sciences, 64(3), 1079–1084. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS1203079B
  7. Benzie, I.F.F., & Strain, J.J. (1999). Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay: Direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration. Methods in Enzymology, 299, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0076-6879(99)99005-5
  8. Bot, N.M.A., Ortius-Lechner, D., Finster, K., Maile, R., & Boomsma, J.J. (2002). Variable sensitivity of fungi and bacteria to compounds produced by the metapleural glands of leaf-cutting ants. Insectes Sociaux, 49, 363–370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-004-0751-3
  9. Choi, M.B., & Lee, Y.H. (2020). The structure and antimicrobial potential of wasp and hornet (Vespidae) mastoparans: A review. Entomological Research, 50, 369–376.
  10. Curtis, R.T., Apante, Y., & Stamp, N.E. (2005). Nest paper absorbency, toughness, and protein concentration of a native vs. invasive social wasp. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 31, 1089–1100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-4249-x
  11. El-Seedi, H., Abd El-Wahed, A., Yosri, N., Musharraf, S.G., Chen, L., Moustafa, M., … Khalifa, S. (2020). Antimicrobial properties of Apis mellifera’s bee venom. Toxins, 12(7), 451. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12070451
  12. Ertürk, Ö., & Bağdatlı, E. (2019). A comprehensive study on nest materials of Vespa crabro and Polistes dominula: Chemical properties and biological characterization with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Biologia, 74, 797–812.
  13. Ertürk, Ö. (2017). Determination of some structural features of the nest paper materials of Dolichovespula saxonica Fabricius, 1793 (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in Türkiye. Entomological Research, 47, 286–294.
  14. Ertürk, Ö., & Şimşek, A. (2020). Chemical components, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of nest materials Vespa crabro germana Christ 1791 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Atatürk University Journal of Agricultural Faculty, 51(1), 44–52.
  15. Evans, H.E., & West-Eberhard, M.J. (1970). The Wasps. Michigan University Press.
  16. Fukumoto, L.R., & Mazza, G. (2000). Assessing antioxidant and prooxidant activities of phenolic compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 48(8), 3597–3604. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf000220w
  17. Gambino, P. (1993). Antibiotic activity of larval saliva of Vespula wasps. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 61(1), 110.
  18. Ganor, E., & Ishay, J.S. (1992). The cement in hornet combs. Journal of Ethology, 10(1), 31–39.
  19. Ghaderi, A., & Sonboli, A. (2019). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Tanacetum walteri (Anthemideae-Asteraceae) from Iran. Natural Product Research, 33(12), 1787–1790. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1434640
  20. Huang, D., Ou, B., & Prior, R.L. (2005). The chemistry behind antioxidant capacity assays. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(6), 1841 1856. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf030723c
  21. Jeanne, R.L. (1975). The adaptiveness of social wasp nest architecture. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 50(3), 267–287.
  22. Kim, K., Tsao, R., Yang, R., & Cui, S.W. (2006). Phenolic acid profiles and antioxidant activities of wheat bran extracts and the effect of hydrolysis conditions. Food Chemistry, 95(3), 466–473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.01.032
  23. Kirshboim, S., & Ishay, J.S. (2000). Silk produced by hornets: Thermophotovoltaic properties—a review. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 127(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1095-6433(00)00237-3
  24. Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15(3), 259–263. https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130
  25. Kubo, I., Kinst-Hori, I., Chaudhuri, S.K., Kubo, Y., Sánchez, Y., & Ogura, T. (2000). Flavonols from Heterotheca inuloides: Tyrosinase inhibitory activity and structural criteria. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 8(7), 1749–1755. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0968-0896(00)00102-4
  26. Kudô, K., Yamane, S.O., Mateus, S., Tsuchida, K., Ito, Y., Miyano, S., Yamamoto, H., & Zucchi, R. (2001). Nest materials and some chemical characteristics of nests of a New World swarm-founding Polistinae wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 13(4), 351–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2001.9522766
  27. Matsuura, M. (1991). Vespa and Provespa. In K.G. Ross & R.W. Matthews (Eds.), The Social Biology of Wasps (pp. 232–262). Cornell University Press.
  28. Molyneux, P. (2004). The use of the stable free radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) for estimating antioxidant activity. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 26(2), 211–219.
  29. Reeve, H.K. (1991). Polistes. In K.G. Ross & R.W. Matthews (Eds.), The Social Biology of Wasps (pp. 99–148). Comstock Publishing Associates.
  30. Reichling, J., Weseler, A., & Saller, R. (2001). A current review of the antimicrobial activity of Hypericum perforatum L. Pharmacopsychiatry, 34(1), 116 118. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-15514
  31. Samarghandian, S., Afshari, J. T., & Davoodi, S. (2011). Chrysin reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in the human prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Clinics, 66(6), 1073–1079.
  32. Silva, T.M.S., Câmara, C.A., Lins, A.C., Barbosa-Filho, J.M., Silva, E.M.S., Freitas, B.M., & Santos, F.A.R. (2006). Chemical composition and free radical scavenging activity of pollen loads from stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 19(6), 507–511.
  33. Slinkard, K., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Total phenol analysis: Automation and comparison with manual methods. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 28(1), 49–55
  34. Turillazzi, S., Perito, B., Pazzagli, L., Pantera, B., Gorfer, S., & Tancredi, M. (2004). Antibacterial activity of larval saliva of the European paper wasp Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Insectes Sociaux, 51(4), 339 341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-004-0751-3
  35. Wen, X., Gongpan, P., Meng, Y., Nieh, J.C., Yuan, H., & Tan, K. (2021). Functional characterization, antimicrobial effects, and potential antibacterial mechanisms of new mastoparan peptides from hornet venom (Vespa ducalis, Vespa mandarinia, and Vespa affinis). Toxicon, 200, 48–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.07.001
  36. Wenzel, J.W. (1998). A generic key to the nests of hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps worldwide (Vespidae, Vespinae, Polistinae). American Museum Novitates, 3224, New York, USA.
  37. Wenzel, J.W. (1991). Evolution of nest architecture. In K.G. Ross & R.W. Matthews (Eds.), The Social Biology of Wasps (pp. 480–507). Comstock Publishing Associates.
  38. Yacoub, T., Rima, M., Karam, M., Sabatier, J.M., & Fajloun, Z. (2020). Antimicrobials from venomous animals: An overview. Molecules, 25(10), 2402. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25102402
  39. Yamane, S., Kudo, K., Tajima, T., Nihon’yanagi, K., Shinoda, M., Saito, K., & Yamamoto, H. (1999). Comparison of investment in nest construction by the foundresses of consubgeneric Polistes wasps, P. (Polistes) riparius and P. (P.) chinensis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Journal of Ethology, 16(2), 97–104.