Black Ant extract 20:1 | Polyrhachis vicina

Properties: In Europe insects are eaten solely by accident or during sleep (supposedly, we consume even up to half a kilogram of them during the entire lifespan). Although sometimes ideas such as “let’s fight global warming and famine issues with the help of highly nutritional insect proteins” show up, the most common response is “sounds good but I’m not going to eat bugs”. Well, in the Far East the approach is quite different as insects are commonly consumed. (Let us not elaborate on the difference between insects and bugs.)

Nevertheless our goal is not to convince anyone to fry a fly instead of a chicken. The point is that the supplementation of black ants extract brings about a plethora of benefits. Apart from being a source of easily digestible proteins, they are rich in biologically active compounds that have a wide spectrum of effects. For instance, the high zinc density is responsible for libido stimulation and the improvement of male sexual performance. Similar effects are brought by ecdysterone – ant equivalent of testosterone. Certainly, it has anabolic properties – it activates the growth of muscle tissue. By the way, muscles actually require magnesium and zinc to function optimally. What is more, the extract contains substances that upregulate the activity of neurotransmitters responsible for energy and motivation. Thus, it not only prepares the body for action but also provides the will and strength to carry on.

Modern scientific research proves that P. vicina extract also has immunostimulating properties. As it turned out, its supplementation increases the production of crucial immune cells such as leukocytes, macrophages and NK cells. Thus, the black ants extract can without a doubt be considered an effective adaptogen that is simply worth trying. The conclusion is simple – we might not see the insects as a remedy to global issues, but we could appreciate their ability to relieve our everyday difficulties.

Occurrence: Edible black ants from China are also called mountain, spiky or Changbai ants. They belong to the genus Polyrhachis vicina and subfamily Formicinae. They naturally inhabit the terrains of Soth-East Asia: China, India, Malesia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. For millennia they as well as other insects constitute an important portion of natives’ diet. At the market they are available in a variety of forms – they can be purchased whole, dried, powdered or even… as wine.

Black ants are not just a food item. Traditional Chinese medicine uses them to regulate the balance of Yin and Yang and to cure a variety of ailments. They are considered effective in supporting sexuality and fertility. Moreover, they constitute one of the most important means to support Qi – some say it is even stronger than ginseng. Possibly, it could even slow down the process of physical aging. Plenty of medical products that contain Polyrhachis vicina are certified by Chinese Health Ministry.

Biochemistry: Dried black ants are a rich source of protein. They are made of proteins in almost 55%! Importantly, over 30% of amino acids they contain are exogenous (not produced by the organism and thus must be obtained from the environment). These ants also contain plenty of minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selen. They also have other compounds, such as tocopherol (vitamin E), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, ecdysterone, glycerol, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl-9-octadecanoate and beta-sitosterol.

Fun fact: Ants have inhabited the Earth more than ten millions years before the dawn of humanity. During that long time many species of plants and animals have changed a lot in the course of evolution. However, the ants as we know them today don’t differ so much from their ancestors, who lived in the times when amber developed. We know it for a fact – thanks to individual insects found in drops of amber.