par Cammaerts Tricot, Marie-Claire 
Référence MOJ biology and medicine, 2, 2, 00045
Publication Publié, 2017
Référence MOJ biology and medicine, 2, 2, 00045
Publication Publié, 2017
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | Glutathione is a natural compound present in every cell, and acting essentially as an antioxidant. It is nowadays produced by humans as a food complement recommended for staying in good health. Its potential adverse effects have not yet been investigated. We thus did so using ants as models. Glutathione did not affect the ants’ tactile perception and relationship with young and adult members of their colonies or aliens. It induced no stress, and scarcely ameliorated their learning and memory. Ants developed no adaptation, as well as no habituation to glutathione consumption. However, this food complement decreased the ants’ food consumption, and increased their activity, speed of locomotion, audacity, and slightly some cognitive abilities (f.i. their ability in crossing a twists and turns path). The ants became somewhat dependent on glutathione, the effects of which rapidly decreased since 2-2½ to 7-7½ hours after weaning, and this decrease was followed by a recovering period during which the ants were less active than usual. Glutathione did not act as a drug such as cocaine, or as an energizing product. It acted rather like a doping substance enhancing some physical and cognitive performances. Humans may discover such an effect and may use glutathione with this aim. They may then become dependent on the product. This should be known by practitioners, pharmacists and anyone whose job consists in evaluating humans’ performances. |
