Biological characteristics, chemical composition and bioactivity of black ants (Polyrhachis vicina Roger): A new approach in insect food

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In recent years, the trend of exploiting natural sources of functional foods and medicinal herbs has been attracted increasing global attention, especially edible insects. Polyrhachis vicina Roger, a common ant species in many Asian countries, including Vietnam, is not only known in traditional medicine but also a potential subject for modern research thanks to its rich biological composition. Recent studies have shown that P. vicina contains many essential amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, along with significant amounts of minerals, polyphenols, and active ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, this ant species has been shown to be low toxicity in many experimental models, further strengthening its potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In Vietnam, although the use of insects as food is still limited, given climate change and the increasing demand for alternative protein sources, it is necessary to evaluate the biological value of species such as P. vicina. This article aims to synthesize and analyze existing data on the nutritional composition, biological activity, and safety of P. vicina, thereby opening up the potential for application in product research and development in Vietnam.