ArticleFrontiers in nutrition2026
Beyond the role of the reproductive caste of chicatana ants (
Article in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: Mexican leaf-cutter ants ( Methods: In this study, chicatana ants were collected in Huatusco, Veracruz, Mexico, and analyzed to determine their nutritional value, the presence of heavy metals and pathogens, and potential compositional bioactivity related to lipids and phenolic compounds. Results and Discussion: Proximate analysis showed the importance of chicatana ants not only as a protein source (38.16%) with an adequate protein digestibility (79.06%) but also as a source of fat (36.54%), mainly composed of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (57.02%), palmitic (21.94%), stearic (14.05%), and linoleic acid (6.98%). Additionally, chicatana ants provide chitin (16.53%), fiber (12.85%), and minerals (1.91%), including microelements such as calcium (532.14 mg/kg), iron (93.92 mg/kg), and zinc (161.09 mg/kg). Selected concentrations (500 and 750 μg/ml) displayed cytoprotective effects under pro-oxidant conditions in Caco-2 cells and anti-inflammatory effects in polarized THP-1 macrophages, as indicated by significant nitrite reduction. Although freeze-drying did not reveal microbial contamination, lead levels exceeded the maximum permitted levels for some European Union-approved insect species (0.1 mg/kg), reinforcing the need to explore additional food safety concerns for chicatana ants and other edible insects. Conclusion: The results highlight the nutritional and biological potential of
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