Abstract

Here we summarize our recent studies on the physiological and behavior effects of five products widely used by humans, using an ant, having received these substances in their usual diet, as a biological model. Nutmeg is a spice which decrease the activity and movement speed of the ants, leading to further motor-linked impairments, but not impairing other behavioral traits as well as learning and memory. Vortioxetine (Brintellix) is an antidepressant recently appearing reducing obesity and having moderate adverse effects in humans. It negatively affected the ants’ food intake, general activity, tactile sensitivity, state of stress and cognition. Berberine is a supplementary dietary regulating, in humans, glucosemia and several parameters. In ants, food intake, general activity, tactile sensitivity, were also negatively impacted, but not their state of stress and cognition. Cashew nuts and mangoes may have similar allergenic effects in humans. In ants, cashew consumption induces sinuosity of movement, stress and nervousness while mango consumption reduces their general activity and behaviors related to motor activity. The correspondence between dependence to a substance, short duration of its effect after withdrawal and abrupt loss of its effect is discussed.

Keywords

nutmeg, brintellix, berberine, cashew nuts, mangoes