Chinese Ants Show Promise For Fighting Arthritis, Other Diseases

June 17, 2008

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428090704.htm

Chemists

have identified substances in Chinese medicinal ants that show promise

for fighting arthritis, hepatitis and other diseases. (Credit: Courtesy

of Zhi-Hong Jiang, Hong Kong Baptist University)ScienceDaily (Apr. 28, 2008) — Ants may be an

unwelcome intruder at picnics, but they could soon be a welcome guest

in your medicine cabinet. Chemists in China report identification of

substances in a certain species of ants that show promise for fighting

arthritis, hepatitis, and other diseases.For centuries, ants have been used as a health food or drink

ingredient in China to treat a wide range of health conditions,

including arthritis and hepatitis. Researchers suspect that these

health effects are due to anti-inflammatory and pain-killing substances

in the ants. However, the exact chemicals responsible for its alleged

medicinal effects are largely unknown.

In the new study, Zhi-Hong Jiang and colleagues analyzed extracts

from a particular species of Chinese medicinal ant (Polyrhacis

lamellidens) commonly used in folk medicine. The researchers identified

at least two polyketides, potent natural products also found in plants,

fungi and bacteria that have shown promise in studies by others for

fighting arthritis, bacterial infections, and a variety of other

diseases.

The article "Bicyclic Polyketide Lactones from Chinese Medicinal Ants, Polyrhacis lamellidens" is scheduled for the April 25 issue of ACS' Journal of Natural Products.Adapted from materials provided by American Chemical Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.