In vitro pharmacological activities from red ant

The extracts of Chinesc red ant formica aquilonia were screened fbr cytotoxicity, antioxidation and antiinfiammatory properties, prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) inhibition, and the effect on the catecholaniinc secretion, Dried ants were successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous acetone and distilled water, Both the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited a high level of POP inhibitory activity; ethyl acetate extract was also significantly cytotoxic against the rat liver cancer cells. In the assay with anti-inflammatory assay, the rcsidue of hexane extract supprcssed weakly COX-2 activity, Inhibition f the acetylcholine-dependent catecholamine secretion from the bovjne adrenal chromaenn ce]ls was most pronounced with the ethyl acetate extract. The aqueous acetone extract cxhibited antioxidant activity in a diphenylpierylhydrazyl assay. These results indicate that E aquiionia contains promising therapeutic agents.