Objective: To study the growth promoting effect of ant Polyrhachis Vicina Roger.
Methods: Mated rats were divided into 3 groups, group A was non-smoking control group, group B was smoking induced intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) group, group C was smoking induced IUGR rats fed with ant Polyrhachis Vicina Roger, then growth indices of fetal rats in each group were evaluated.
Results: The result showed that, the average birth weight, body length and tail length of fetal rats in treatment group were significantly higher than those of two control groups (P < 0.01); the incidence of IUGR was significantly lower in treatment group than that of two control groups (P < 0.01); the fetal mortality rate was significantly lower in treatment group than that of two control groups (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Ant Polyrhachis Vicina Roger is rich in amino acids, vitamines and trace elements, which could help the growth of fetal rats. Polyrhachis Vicina Roger is also rich in ecdysterone, that is growth hormone of insects, it has a strong protein anabolic effect, which might contribute to the growth promoting effect of Polyrhachis Vicina Roger.