Black Ant

What Is Black Ant?

Black ant is a small black ant from the forests of southern China and Southeast Asia, eaten whole as a tonic. The dried ant is ground into a powder, packed into capsules or steeped as a liquid extract or wine. It is valued as a dense source of protein and minerals, and in Chinese medicine as a tonic for energy, stamina, sexual vitality and the joints ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

The ant is a species of Polyrhachis, sold under the name Polyrhachis vicina. It builds carton nests in shrubs and low branches and is collected from the wild ^{19,20Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}.

Dried black ant is more than half protein, with notable amounts of zinc, iron, calcium and manganese ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. It also contains the insect moulting hormone ecdysterone ^{14Reference 14Duan et al. · 1999AnimalTreatment of intrauterine growth retardation with ant Polyrhachis vicina Roger — rat modelView study →}. Research on a concentrated ethanol fraction has looked at mood, inflammation, uric acid and bone loss, all in rodents and cells ^{2,7,8Reference 2Wei et al. · 2018AnimalAntidepressant-like effect of active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger in a rat depression model — animal in vivoView study →Reference 7Feng et al. · 2024In vitroActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (Rogers) inhibits osteoclastogenesis by targeting Trim38-mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 — mouse model and in vitroView study →Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}.

The name P. vicina is now treated as a synonym of Polyrhachis dives, so studies published under either name concern the same ant ^{22Reference 22Catalogue of Life · 2026Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives Smith, 1857 — accepted name, classification and synonyms (including P. vicina Roger, 1863) — taxonomic database. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4LL35View study →}.

How Is Black Ant Used?

Black ant is taken as a dried whole-insect powder or extract, usually as a daily tonic over weeks or months.

• Powder — stirred into smoothies or protein shakes, or baked into food.
• Capsules — the same dried powder, encapsulated.
• Liquid extract or ant wine — the ants steeped in alcohol, a traditional Chinese form ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.
• As food — in the highlands of northern Vietnam the ant eggs are cooked into cakes, stir-fries and soups ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

It is popular as a pre-workout tonic among athletes and as a study aid among students.

Traditional Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine black ant is a Qi tonic and an adaptogen, grouped with the major tonics such as eleuthero, cordyceps, reishi and schisandra ^{25Reference 25Teeguarden · 2000The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs — book (first published 1998 as Radiant Health)View study →}. It is paired with ginseng and codonopsis to strengthen Qi.

It is used as a tonic and aphrodisiac and as the main ingredient of medicinal ant wines ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. It has also been used for rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis ^{10Reference 10Li et al. · 2023In vitroThe active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger activates ERK to cause necroptosis in colorectal cancer — in vivo and in vitroView study →}.

Other uses include sexual weakness in men and women, repair of broken bone and damaged muscle, and stamina for study and physical work.

In Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai it is sold in health clubs as a pre-workout tonic, and students take it to keep up their concentration through long hours of study.

Vietnamese Folk Use

In the highlands of northern Vietnam black ant eggs are a seasonal food, gathered from forest nests in the second and third lunar months when the colonies are breeding ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

The Tay and Nung peoples of Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen make a well-known ant egg cake from them, stir-fried with scallions and fat and wrapped in sticky rice dough. The eggs also go into omelettes, soups and sticky rice, and the ants are roasted and eaten whole ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Indications

• Fatigue and low stamina [whole ant; TCM]
• Athletic performance and muscle building [whole ant] ⚠Caution: The muscle findings come from purified ecdysterone in a human trial and animal studies. Black ant itself has not been tested for performance, and its ecdysterone content has not been measured ^14,15,16.
• Low libido and erectile dysfunction [whole ant; TCM]
• Rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain [whole ant; TCM]
• Broken bones and damaged muscle [whole ant; TCM]
• Gout and high uric acid [ethanol fraction]
• Low mood and depression [ethanol fraction]
• Weak immunity [whole ant; TCM]
• Poor nutrition and anaemia [whole ant]
• Concentration and mental stamina [whole ant; TCM]

Zoology

Black ant is an insect, not a plant. It belongs to the ant family Formicidae in the order Hymenoptera, with the bees and wasps, and to the subfamily Formicinae and the genus Polyrhachis ^{22Reference 22Catalogue of Life · 2026Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives Smith, 1857 — accepted name, classification and synonyms (including P. vicina Roger, 1863) — taxonomic database. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4LL35View study →}.

Polyrhachis is one of the largest ant genera, with several hundred described species ^{23Reference 23GBIF.org · 2026Polyrhachis dives Smith, 1857 and genus Polyrhachis — occurrence records by country and continent — species database. https://www.gbif.org/species/1318539View study →}. The medicinal species is sold as Polyrhachis vicina Roger, 1863. Catalogue of Life lists that name as a synonym of Polyrhachis dives Smith, 1857 ^{22Reference 22Catalogue of Life · 2026Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives Smith, 1857 — accepted name, classification and synonyms (including P. vicina Roger, 1863) — taxonomic database. https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/4LL35View study →}.

The worker is black, about 5 mm long, and clothed in fine pale golden hairs ^{21Reference 21Smith · 1857Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by AView study →}. Its thorax carries two short curved spines at the front and two more at the back. The scale-like waist segment bears two long spines that curve backwards ^{21Reference 21Smith · 1857Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by AView study →}.

The ant builds carton nests on the lower branches of trees, shrubs and grasses ^{20Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}. Workers bind leaves and twigs together with silk spun by their larvae ^{20Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}. Colonies have many queens, and workers forage over shrubs and grass ^{20Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}.

It is active by day ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. Under laboratory conditions at 26–27°C the egg stage lasts about 24 days, the larva about 20 days and the pupa about 20 days, some 64 days in all ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. The colony produces one generation a year and can overwinter at every stage, growing quickly in spring and most active in summer ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Southeast Asian specimens differ slightly in the head from those in Australia and New Guinea ^{20Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}.

Distribution

Black ant lives in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Australasia. Records of P. dives span southern China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, India, mainland and island Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia ^{23Reference 23GBIF.org · 2026Polyrhachis dives Smith, 1857 and genus Polyrhachis — occurrence records by country and continent — species database. https://www.gbif.org/species/1318539View study →}. The wider genus Polyrhachis occurs across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific ^{23Reference 23GBIF.org · 2026Polyrhachis dives Smith, 1857 and genus Polyrhachis — occurrence records by country and continent — species database. https://www.gbif.org/species/1318539View study →}.

It favours young secondary growth, including scrubby wasteland and disturbed forest patches in and around towns ^{20Reference 20Hamer et al. · 2022Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy — Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) dives species accountView study →}.

Sourcing: black ant is wild-collected. Colonies have proved hard to farm on a commercial scale because of the ant’s social biology, so supply depends on gathering nests from forest and scrub ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. No population assessment exists for the species. Buyers can ask a supplier where and how the ants were collected, and which species the product contains.

Phytochemistry

Dried black ant is 56.6% protein, 9.0% fat and 6.3% ash by weight in the main compositional analysis of P. vicina ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. Its protein contains 18 amino acids, with glutamic acid, glycine and aspartic acid the most abundant ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. The exoskeleton adds chitin, an insoluble fibre.

The essential amino acids total 18.5 g per 100 g, including leucine at 3.9 g, methionine at 1.2 g, phenylalanine at 1.8 g and tryptophan at 1.1 g. Tyrosine reaches 2.8 g, and cysteine was not detected ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc are the main minerals among the sixteen measured ^{1Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysis}. Zinc reaches 227 mg/kg and iron 940 mg/kg, with small amounts of selenium, copper and chromium ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

The ant contains the insect steroid ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone), the hormone that controls moulting ^{14Reference 14Duan et al. · 1999AnimalTreatment of intrauterine growth retardation with ant Polyrhachis vicina Roger — rat modelView study →}. Its amount has not been reported.

A hydro-ethanolic extract contained about 60 identified components. Its main polyphenols were salicylic acid, gallic acid, liquiritigenin and naringenin, alongside 23 free fatty acids ^{6Reference 6Zhang et al. · 2022In vitroCharacterization, antioxidant activities, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of extract from the edible insect Polyrhachis vicina — in vitroView study →}. The concentrated ethanol fraction used in most pharmacology studies has elaidic acid as its main active component ^{10Reference 10Li et al. · 2023In vitroThe active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger activates ERK to cause necroptosis in colorectal cancer — in vivo and in vitroView study →}.

The oil changes with drying. Fresh ants are dominated by long-chain hydrocarbons, while sun-dried ants have more free fatty acids, chiefly oleic acid ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Constituent Summary

Amounts are for dried whole P. vicina ^{1,19Reference 1Shen et al. · 2006Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysisReference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Pharmacology & Research

Black ant has a small preclinical literature of a few dozen papers. Most come from one group of Chinese researchers working on an ethanol and petroleum-ether “active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers”, abbreviated AFPR ^{2,8Reference 2Wei et al. · 2018AnimalAntidepressant-like effect of active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger in a rat depression model — animal in vivoView study →Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}.

That work has tested AFPR for mood, inflammation, cancer, stroke, memory, bone loss and uric acid in rats, mice and cells. No clinical trial of black ant has been registered in any form.

The athletic reputation rests on ecdysterone. A human trial tested the purified compound, not the ant ^{15Reference 15Isenmann et al. · 2019RCTEcdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans — randomised controlled trialView study →}.

1. Antidepressant

AFPR at 160 and 320 mg/kg by mouth shortened immobility in the forced-swim and tail-suspension tests in mice, without changing locomotion ^{2Reference 2Wei et al. · 2018AnimalAntidepressant-like effect of active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger in a rat depression model — animal in vivoView study →}. In rats made depressed with repeated reserpine, it reversed hypothermia and akinesia and normalised the turnover of noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine and the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex ^{2Reference 2Wei et al. · 2018AnimalAntidepressant-like effect of active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger in a rat depression model — animal in vivoView study →}.

In a corticosterone-induced depression model, AFPR raised PRKACA, CREB and BDNF in mouse brain tissue and PC12 cells, pointing to the cAMP signalling pathway and neuroplasticity ^{3Reference 3He et al. · 2023In vitroIntegrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and pharmacological evaluation for exploring Polyrhachis vicina Rogers in ameliorating depression — in vitro and in vivoView study →}.

In rats under chronic unpredictable stress and in LPS-stimulated microglial cells, AFPR raised SOCS1 through an FTO/miR-221-3p axis and lowered NF-κB, IL-6 and IL-7 ^{4Reference 4He et al. · 2023AnimalActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger ameliorates depression-induced inflammation via the FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 axis — rat and cell modelView study →}.

Gap: every result is in rodents or cells using the AFPR solvent fraction; no human trial, and the whole-ant tonic has never been tested for mood effects.

2. Anti-Inflammatory

An ethanol extract of the related medicinal ant Polyrhachis lamellidens inhibited xylene-induced ear oedema and acetic-acid-induced vascular permeability in mice, but had no clear effect on leukocyte migration ^{5Reference 5Kou et al. · 2005AnimalAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of total extract and individual fractions of Chinese medicinal ants Polyrhachis lamellidens — mouse in vivoView study →}. The water fraction carried most of the anti-inflammatory activity ^{5Reference 5Kou et al. · 2005AnimalAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of total extract and individual fractions of Chinese medicinal ants Polyrhachis lamellidens — mouse in vivoView study →}.

In a rat hyperuricemia model, AFPR lowered serum IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α alongside its urate-lowering effect ^{8Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}.

NF-κB down-regulation recurs across the breast cancer and depression studies ^{4,9Reference 4He et al. · 2023AnimalActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger ameliorates depression-induced inflammation via the FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 axis — rat and cell modelView study →Reference 9Li et al. · 2020In vitroActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers suppressed breast cancer growth and progression via the EGR1/lncRNA-NKILA/NF-κB axis — xenograft and in vitroView study →}. Elaidic acid is the main active component identified in AFPR, and the extract’s polyphenols include gallic acid ^{6,10Reference 6Zhang et al. · 2022In vitroCharacterization, antioxidant activities, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of extract from the edible insect Polyrhachis vicina — in vitroView study →Reference 10Li et al. · 2023In vitroThe active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger activates ERK to cause necroptosis in colorectal cancer — in vivo and in vitroView study →}.

Gap: the cleanest in vivo anti-inflammatory data are from a different Polyrhachis species, and no study used the whole-ant preparation at a dietary dose.

3. Antioxidant

A hydro-ethanolic extract of P. vicina showed strong radical-scavenging and pancreatic-lipase inhibition in vitro. About 60 components were identified, with salicylic acid, gallic acid, liquiritigenin and naringenin as the major polyphenols ^{6Reference 6Zhang et al. · 2022In vitroCharacterization, antioxidant activities, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of extract from the edible insect Polyrhachis vicina — in vitroView study →}.

Antioxidant activity also appears as a secondary readout in the disease models. AFPR raised superoxide dismutase and lowered malondialdehyde in hyperuricemic rats ^{8Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}, and reduced RANKL-induced reactive oxygen species while raising ROS-scavenging enzymes in osteoclast assays ^{7Reference 7Feng et al. · 2024In vitroActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (Rogers) inhibits osteoclastogenesis by targeting Trim38-mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 — mouse model and in vitroView study →}.

4. Anticancer

In breast cancer, AFPR suppressed growth, migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells and inhibited xenograft tumour growth. It up-regulated the long non-coding RNA NKILA, by inhibiting its suppressor EGR1, and so inactivated NF-κB ^{9Reference 9Li et al. · 2020In vitroActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Rogers suppressed breast cancer growth and progression via the EGR1/lncRNA-NKILA/NF-κB axis — xenograft and in vitroView study →}.

In colorectal cancer, AFPR inhibited cell growth and caused cell death. Its main active component, elaidic acid, triggered necroptosis through ERK/RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL and suppressed tumour growth in mice ^{10Reference 10Li et al. · 2023In vitroThe active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger activates ERK to cause necroptosis in colorectal cancer — in vivo and in vitroView study →}.

Both studies use the concentrated fraction or an isolated component, in specific cancer models.

5. Neuroprotective

In rats with cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion after middle-cerebral-artery occlusion, oral AFPR (4 and 8 g raw drug/kg for 12 days) improved neurological scores and reduced infarct size. It promoted angiogenesis and Pink1/Parkin mitophagy, linked to raised SIRT3 ^{11Reference 11Wei et al. · 2023AnimalActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (Roger) alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by targeting SIRT3-mediated mitophagy and angiogenesis — rat modelView study →}.

In an amyloid-β rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, AFPR at 3.65–30 mg/kg/day improved Morris-water-maze memory and reduced amyloid-β deposition by suppressing the EGR1/BACE1/APP axis, most strongly at the highest dose ^{12Reference 12He et al. · 2022AnimalPolyrhachis vicina Roger alleviates memory impairment in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease through the EGR1/BACE1/APP axis — animal in vivoView study →}.

6. Analgesic

In mice, an ethanol extract of Polyrhachis lamellidens at 1.5 and 3.0 g crude drug/kg raised the hot-plate pain threshold and inhibited acetic-acid-induced writhing ^{5Reference 5Kou et al. · 2005AnimalAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of total extract and individual fractions of Chinese medicinal ants Polyrhachis lamellidens — mouse in vivoView study →}. The diethyl-ether fraction contributed most of the analgesic effect ^{5Reference 5Kou et al. · 2005AnimalAnalgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of total extract and individual fractions of Chinese medicinal ants Polyrhachis lamellidens — mouse in vivoView study →}.

7. Bone Support

AFPR inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro and lowered osteoclast reactive oxygen species. It acted by promoting Trim38-mediated proteasomal breakdown of TRAF6, which suppressed NFATc1. In ovariectomised mice it reduced bone loss ^{7Reference 7Feng et al. · 2024In vitroActive fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (Rogers) inhibits osteoclastogenesis by targeting Trim38-mediated proteasomal degradation of TRAF6 — mouse model and in vitroView study →}.

In rats with smoking-induced intrauterine growth restriction, feeding P. vicina to the mothers raised birth weight and body length and lowered fetal mortality ^{14Reference 14Duan et al. · 1999AnimalTreatment of intrauterine growth retardation with ant Polyrhachis vicina Roger — rat modelView study →}. The authors attributed this partly to the ant’s amino acids, minerals and ecdysterone ^{14Reference 14Duan et al. · 1999AnimalTreatment of intrauterine growth retardation with ant Polyrhachis vicina Roger — rat modelView study →}.

Gap: a single dedicated osteoporosis study; the “repairs broken bone” tradition is not directly tested, and the anabolic contribution is inferred from ecdysterone rather than measured.

8. Hypouricemic

In potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemic male rats, 12 weeks of oral AFPR lowered serum uric acid and inhibited serum and liver xanthine oxidase ^{8Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}. It also lowered creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, reduced the renal urate transporters URAT1 and GLUT9 and raised OAT1 ^{8Reference 8Su et al. · 2018AnimalHypouricemic and nephroprotective effects of an active fraction from Polyrhachis vicina Roger on potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in rats — animal in vivoView study →}.

9. Immunomodulatory

In mice, P. vicina at 0.25–1.5 g/kg/day for 10 days had no effect on immune organ weight or delayed-type hypersensitivity in healthy animals ^{13Reference 13Cai et al. · 2001AnimalThe effects of Polyrhachis vicina on immunoregulation in mice — animal in vivoView study →}. It improved non-specific and humoral immune function in hydrocortisone-suppressed mice, and brought both suppressed and over-activated hypersensitivity responses back toward normal ^{13Reference 13Cai et al. · 2001AnimalThe effects of Polyrhachis vicina on immunoregulation in mice — animal in vivoView study →}.

Gap: a single older study with limited mechanistic detail, showing regulation in both directions rather than general stimulation.

10. Athletic Performance

Purified ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) was tested in a 10-week strength-training study of 46 young men. Those given ecdysterone gained significantly more muscle mass and one-repetition bench-press strength, with no rise in liver or kidney toxicity markers ^{15Reference 15Isenmann et al. · 2019RCTEcdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans — randomised controlled trialView study →}. The same hypertrophic effect appeared in C2C12 myotubes, and the anabolic action is thought to work through oestrogen-receptor binding ^{15Reference 15Isenmann et al. · 2019RCTEcdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans — randomised controlled trialView study →}.

In rats, its metabolite poststerone, like 20-hydroxyecdysone, enlarged muscle-fibre cross-sectional area ^{16Reference 16Csábi et al. · 2019AnimalPoststerone increases muscle fibre size partly similar to its metabolically parent compound, 20-hydroxyecdysone — rat in vivoView study →}.

Black ant contains ecdysterone ^{14Reference 14Duan et al. · 1999AnimalTreatment of intrauterine growth retardation with ant Polyrhachis vicina Roger — rat modelView study →}, but its content has not been measured.

Gap: no study has tested black ant itself for performance or muscle outcomes; this is constituent-level inference across a large preparation and dose mismatch.

Mechanisms

Most of the pharmacology comes from the AFPR fraction. It has been studied for NF-κB suppression in the inflammation, cancer and depression work, for monoamine and cAMP–CREB–BDNF signalling in the antidepressant studies, and for xanthine oxidase inhibition in the uric acid work.

The insect steroid ecdysterone has been studied separately, as a purified compound, for its effects on muscle.

Clinical Trials

No registered clinical trial of black ant was found in any preparation. The human trial of ecdysterone tested the purified compound, not the ant ^{15Reference 15Isenmann et al. · 2019RCTEcdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans — randomised controlled trialView study →}.

Last checked: July 2026.

Dosage

Black ant is taken as a dried powder, in capsules or as an extract. The research doses below are for the AFPR fraction or related extracts in animals.

Traditional Dosage

Safety & Pregnancy

Black ant is an edible insect with a long history as food and tonic, and no serious toxicity has been reported in animal studies ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}. Its main caution is allergy: like other edible insects, it can cross-react with shellfish.

Full Safety & Interactions Detail

Allergy. Edible insects share the pan-allergen tropomyosin with crustaceans and dust mites. Insect ingestion can cause anaphylaxis, and cross-reactivity with shrimp varies between insect species ^{17,18Reference 17Palmer et al. · 2020In vitroShellfish tropomyosin IgE cross-reactivity differs among edible insect species — in vitro immunoassayView study →Reference 18de Gier et al. · 2018ReviewInsect (food) allergy and allergens — reviewView study →}. Anyone with a shellfish or dust-mite allergy should treat black ant as a likely cross-reactive food.

Digestion. Chitin from the exoskeleton is an insoluble fibre that can cause digestive discomfort in sensitive people.

Sleep. Traditional users note mild stimulation, so it is usually taken earlier in the day.

Quality. Like all edible insects, wild-collected ants can carry heavy metals from their environment and microbial contamination if poorly processed ^{19Reference 19Quoc et al. · 2026ReviewBiological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food — reviewView study →}.

Sport. Ecdysterone has been on the WADA Monitoring Program since 2020. It is not a prohibited substance ^{24Reference 24U.SAnti-Doping Agency (USADA)View study →}.

References

1. Shen, L., Li, D., Feng, F., & Ren, Y. (2006). Nutritional composition of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Edible Chinese black ant) — compositional analysis. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 28(Suppl. 1), 107-114.
2. Wei, G. et al. (2018). Antidepressant-like effect of active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger in a rat depression model — animal in vivo. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32185947/
3. He, J. et al. (2023). Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and pharmacological evaluation for exploring Polyrhachis vicina Rogers in ameliorating depression — in vitro and in vivo. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36923105/
4. He, J. et al. (2023). Active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina Roger ameliorates depression-induced inflammation via the FTO/miR-221-3p/SOCS1 axis — rat and cell model. Journal of Inflammation Research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38152570/
5. Kou, J. et al. (2005). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of total extract and individual fractions of Chinese medicinal ants Polyrhachis lamellidens — mouse in vivo. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15635188/
6. Zhang, Z. et al. (2022). Characterization, antioxidant activities, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory effect of extract from the edible insect Polyrhachis vicina — in vitro. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35464030/
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