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Lasius fuliginosus Nest Carton as a Source of New Promising Bioactive Extracts with Chemopreventive Potential

Summary

This research discovered that nest material from jet black ants contains promising compounds that could help fight cancer, particularly melanoma. The study found that water extracts from these ant nests have strong antioxidant properties and can inhibit cancer cell growth while being safe for normal cells. This represents an exciting new source of natural medicines. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a potential new source of natural anti-cancer treatments • Demonstrates how nature’s complex interactions can lead to valuable medical discoveries • Opens new possibilities for developing safer cancer treatments with fewer side effects • Shows how common insects like ants could contribute to human healthcare • Highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats as sources of medical compounds

Background

For centuries, nature has been a source of bioactive products used in medicine, initially from plants and fungi. Modern medicine faces increasing challenges from diseases like cancer and diabetes, driving the search for new natural bioactive substances. Products from plants, insects, and fungi are considered good sources of such compounds, particularly those produced in synergistically interacting structures like ant nests.

Objective

To characterize new water extracts from the nest carton of Lasius fuliginosus ants and evaluate their biochemical and bioactive properties, including antioxidative and anticancer effects. This is the first study to analyze products containing metabolites produced by synergistically interacting elements – ants, plant structure material, and the microbiome of these insect-built structures.

Results

All extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, with E1 and E2 showing the highest potential. The extracts exhibited strong dose-dependent inhibitory activity against melanoma cells while having minimal effects on normal Vero cells. Extract E2 showed the most promising chemopreventive activity. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of polysaccharides and lignin-derived phenolic compounds. Significant impedance changes were detected in both cell lines following E2 administration.

Conclusion

Ant nest water extracts represent a promising new source of pharmaceuticals with chemopreventive and antioxidative potential. The synergistic action of substances contained in the carton, presented for the first time in this work, may become important in controlling various human and animal diseases. The results provide a basis for further research on jet black ant nest carton as a source of bioactive compounds.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/ijms22094392
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