ROOPAK GOSWAMI
Shillong, March 13: A study by researchers at North-Eastern Hill University has found that extracts from the Asian weaver ant may possess promising anti-cancer properties, opening a new avenue for exploring natural compounds for cancer research.
The research, published in the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, examined the effects of extracts from the weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) on mice bearing Dalton’s lymphoma tumour cells.
Weaver ants are tree-dwelling insects known for their remarkable ability to build nests by stitching leaves together using silk produced by their larvae.
The study was conducted by research scholar Jonata Savio A Sangma and retired professor Surya Bali Prasad from the Cell and Tumour Laboratory of the Zoology Department at NEHU.
Researchers prepared aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts from adult ants, larvae and pupae and tested them on mice carrying Dalton’s lymphoma tumours.
Among the extracts, the ethanol extract from adult worker ants showed the most promising results.
Mice treated with the extract at a dose of 25 mg per kg body weight showed an increase in survival time by about 73 per cent, compared with untreated tumour-bearing mice.
Further laboratory analysis revealed that the extract triggered apoptosis, a process in which damaged or abnormal cells undergo programmed self-destruction.
Cancer cells exposed to the extract exhibited clear apoptotic changes, including cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and chromatin condensation, similar to those observed when treated with the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin.
Histopathological examination also showed that the ant extract caused less damage to liver and kidney tissues in mice compared to cisplatin, sugaility of lower toxicity.
However, the researchers emphasised that the findings are preliminary and further studies are needed to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for the effect and understand the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Weaver ants are widely found across Northeast India and Southeast Asia and are also known for their role as natural pest controllers in orchards. In several indigenous communities, they have been traditionally used as food and in folk medicine.
The research is among the first detailed investigations from Northeast India exploring the anticancer potential of the Asian weaver ant.
The researchers say the study highlights the potential of biodiversity-based research from Northeast India to contribute to future drug discovery.
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