Purple sweet potato anthocyanin attenuates fat-induced mortality in Drosophila melanogaster

Influence of α-lipoic acid on longevity and stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster fed with a high-fat diet

Consumption of a high-fat diet is accompanied by the risks of obesity and early onset of age-associated complications for which dietary interventions are imperative to combat. α-lipoic acid has been shown to hinder diet-induced obesity and induce lifespan-extending efficacy in model organisms. In this study, α-lipoic acid was investigated for its efficacy in improving lifespan and stress resistance in the Canton-S strain of Drosophila melanogaster fed with a high-fat diet. Furthermore, as mating status significantly impacts survival in fruit flies, flies were reared in two experimental groups-group one, in which males and females were bred together, and group two, in which males and females were bred separately. In group one, α-lipoic acid improved the mean lifespan, reduced the fecundity of females, and reduced the mean body weight of flies at a dose range of 2-2.5 mM, respectively. In group two, α-lipoic acid improved the mean lifespan, reduced the fecundity of females, and reduced the mean body weight of flies at a dose range of 1-2.5 mM, respectively. Improved climbing efficiency was observed with α-lipoic acid at the dose range of 1.5-2.5 mM in flies of group one and 1-2.5 mM in flies of group two, respectively. Administration of α-lipoic acid improved resistance to oxidative stress in only female flies of group one at 2.5 mM, whereas in group two, both male and female flies exhibited enhanced resistance to oxidative stress with α-lipoic acid at a dose range of 2-2.5 mM, respectively. Male and female flies of only group one showed improved resistance to heat shock stress with α-lipoic acid at a dose range of 2-2.5 mM. Only female flies of group two exhibited a slight improvement in recovery time following cold shock with α-lipoic acid only at 2.5 mM. No significant change in resistance to starvation stress was observed with any dose of α-lipoic acid in either group of flies. To summarize, data from this study suggested a probable dose and gender-dependent efficacy of α-lipoic acid in flies fed with a high-fat diet, which was significantly influenced by the mating status of flies due to varied rearing conditions.

Berberis vulgaris L. extract supplementation exerts regulatory effects on the lifespan and healthspan of Drosophila through its antioxidant activity depending on the sex

Worldwide the aging population continues to increase, so the concept of healthy longevity medicine has become increasingly significant in modern society. Berberis vulgaris L. fruits serve as a functional food supplement with a high concentration of bioactive compounds, which offer numerous health-promoting benefits. The goal of this study was to investigate the geroprotective effect of Berberis vulgaris L. extract. Here we show that extract of Berberis vulgaris L. can, depending on concentrate, increases lifespan up to 6%, promote healthspan (stress resistance up to 35%, locomotor activity up to 25%, integrity of the intestinal barrier up to 12%, metabolic rate up to 5%) of Drosophila melanogaster (in vitro) and exhibits antioxidant (using red blood cell tests) and antiglycation activity (using glycation of bovine serum albumin) (in vitro). In addition to this, the extract does not exhibit cytotoxic properties in vitro, unlike the well-known polyphenolic compound quercetin. qRT-PCR has revealed the involvement of metabolic, heat shock response and lipid metabolism genes in the observed effects.

Artemisia argyi extract exerts antioxidant properties and extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

BACKGROUND

Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi) possesses extensive pharmacological activities associated with anti-tumour, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-ageing effects of A. argyi extract (AAE) on the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) ageing model by detecting antioxidant enzyme activities and the mRNA level of antioxidant genes.

RESULTS

AAE could significantly lengthen the mean lifespan, 50% survival days, and maximum lifespan of D. melanogaster, especially when the amount of AAE added reached 6.68 mg mL-1, the mean lifespan of both female and male flies increased by 23.74% and 22.30%, respectively, indicating the effective life extension effect of AAE. At the same time, AAE could improve the climbing ability and tolerance to hydrogen peroxide in D. melanogaster. In addition, the addition of AAE effectively increased the activities of copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase, manganese-containing superoxide dismutase and catalase in D. melanogaster and reduced the contents of malondialdehyde. Moreover, when reared with diets containing AAE, the expression of antioxidant-related genes SOD1, SOD2 and CAT was up-regulated in D. melanogaster and down-regulated for MTH genes.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates that AAE effectively enhances the antioxidant capacity of D. melanogaster and has potential applications as an antioxidant and anti-ageing agent in the nutraceutical industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ageing, Metabolic Dysfunction, and the Therapeutic Role of Antioxidants

The gradual ageing of the world population has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases, especially type 2 diabetes. The adipose tissue dysfunction associated with ageing and obesity shares many common physiological features, including increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity may help elucidate the processes that contribute to the metabolic disturbances that occur with ageing. This, in turn, may help identify therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity and age-related metabolic disorders. Because oxidative stress plays a critical role in these pathological processes, antioxidant dietary interventions could be of therapeutic value for the prevention and/or treatment of age-related diseases and obesity and their complications. In this chapter, we review the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which obesity predisposes individuals to accelerated ageing. Additionally, we critically review the potential of antioxidant dietary interventions to counteract obesity and ageing.

Insect Models in Nutrition Research

Insects are the most diverse organisms on earth, accounting for ~80% of all animals. They are valuable as model organisms, particularly in the context of genetics, development, behavior, neurobiology and evolutionary biology. Compared to other laboratory animals, insects are advantageous because they are inexpensive to house and breed in large numbers, making them suitable for high-throughput testing. They also have a short life cycle, facilitating the analysis of generational effects, and they fulfil the 3R principle (replacement, reduction and refinement). Many insect genomes have now been sequenced, highlighting their genetic and physiological similarities with humans. These factors also make insects favorable as whole-animal high-throughput models in nutritional research. In this review, we discuss the impact of insect models in nutritional science, focusing on studies investigating the role of nutrition in metabolic diseases and aging/longevity. We also consider food toxicology and the use of insects to study the gut microbiome. The benefits of insects as models to study the relationship between nutrition and biological markers of fitness and longevity can be exploited to improve human health.

Mechanisms of the ethanol extract of Gelidium amansii for slow aging in high-fat male Drosophila by metabolomic analysis

Gelidium amansii (GA) is a kind of red alga homologous to medicine and food and is distributed all over the world. Studies on GA are mainly focused on its polysaccharides, with little research on the ethanol extract. The ethanol extract of Gelidium amansii (GAE) was subjected to a reverse-phase column to obtain 7 components. Among them, 100% methanol solution (GAM), enriched with phytene-1,2-diol, exhibited the strongest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.17 mg mL-1). Subsequently, high-fat male flies (HMFs) were used as a model to explore the antioxidant and anti-aging effects of GAM in vivo. Studies showed that GAM can effectively prolong the lifespan of HMFs. When GAM concentrations were 0.2 and 1.0 mg mL-1, the average lifespan of HMFs was increased by 28.7 and 40.7%, respectively, while the longest lifespan of HMFs was increased by 20.55% and 32.88%, respectively. Further research revealed that GAM can significantly downregulate the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO), and can significantly upregulate the levels of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). In addition, by analyzing differential metabolites, we found that GAM relieves aging caused by oxidative stress by regulating amino acid, lipid, sugar, and energy metabolism. The GAM group significantly regulated the levels of adenine, cholic acid, glutamate, L-proline, niacin, and stachyose which tend to recover to the levels of the normal diet male fly (NMF) group. In general, our research provides ideas for the high-value utilization of GA and provides a lead compound for the research and development of anti-aging food or medicine.

Anti-aging effects and mechanisms of anthocyanins and their intestinal microflora metabolites

Aging, a natural and inevitable physiological process, is the primary risk factor for all age-related diseases; it severely threatens the health of individuals and places a heavy burden on the public health-care system. Thus, strategies to extend the lifespan and prevent and treat age-related diseases have been gaining increasing scientific interest. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are a subclass of flavonoids widely distributed in fruits and vegetables. Growing evidence suggests that ACNs delay aging and relieve age-related diseases. However, owing to the low bioavailability of ACNs, their gut metabolites have been proposed to play a critical role in mediating health benefits. In this review, we introduce the biological fate of ACNs after consumption and highlight ACNs metabolites (phenolic acids) from intestinal microorganisms. Additionally, ACNs and gut metabolites exhibit outstanding anti-aging ability in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and mouse models, probably associated with increasing antioxidation, anti-inflammation, protein homeostasis, antiglycation, mitochondrial function, and inhibition of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS). ACNs and gut metabolites have great application prospects as functional foods and drugs to delay aging and manage age-related diseases. Further investigation should focus on the interaction between ACNs and gut microbiota, including clarifying the complex metabolic pathway and maximizing the health effects of ACNs.

Hsian-Tsao (Mesona chinensis Benth.) Extract Improves the Thermal Tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster

Global warming has prompted scientific communities to consider how to alleviate thermal stress in humans and animals. The present study assessed the supplementation of hsian-tsao extract (HTE) on thermal stress in Drosophila melanogaster and preliminarily explicated its possible physiological and molecular mechanisms. Our results indicated that the lethal time for 50% of female flies fed on HTE was significantly longer than that of male flies at the same heat stress temperature. Under thermal stress, the survival time of females was remarkably increased in the HTE addition groups compared to the non-addition group. Thermal hardening by acute exposure to 36°C for 30 min (9:00 to 9:30 a.m.) every day could significantly prolong the longevity of females. Without thermal hardening, HTE increased the antioxidant capacity of females under heat stress, accompanied by an increment of catalase (CAT) activity, and the inhibition for hydroxyl radicals (OH⋅) and superoxide anions (⋅O2 -). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the inhibition for ⋅O2 - was significantly affected by thermal hardening in the non-HTE addition groups, and significant differences were shown in CAT and SOD activities, and the inhibition for ⋅O2 - among groups with thermal hardening. After heat exposure, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was only up-regulated in the group with high levels of added HTE compared with the group without and this was similar in the thermal hardening group. It was concluded that the heat stress-relieving ability of HTE might be partly due to the enhancement of enzymatic activities of SOD and CAT, and the inhibition for OH⋅ and ⋅O2 -. However, the expression levels of Hsp70 were not well related to thermal tolerance or heat survival.

Hawthorn extract inhibited the PI3k/Akt pathway to prolong the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

HE is a natural extract with strong antioxidant capacity. Drosophila melanogaster was used to explore HE could delay aging in this study. We detected that 3 mg/ml HE could increase stress tolerance (heat, cold, starvation, oxidative stress), reduce intestinal dysfunction, and prolong the lifespan of D. melanogaster. Network pharmacology analysis showed HE could act through the PI3K-Akt pathway. Meanwhile, HE intervention inhibited the gene expression of InR, PI3K, and Akt-1, and further increased the gene expression of Atg1, Atg5, Atg8a, and Atg8b. Furthermore, HE inhibited the unnatural propagation of ISCs and increased the number of lysosomes. Supplement with HE may be an effective intervention for aging D. melanogaster. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In recent years, diseases that come with aging have seriously affected people's healthy life. Hawthorn is a kind of nutrient-rich substance that is rich in flavonoids and thus has many potential biological and pharmacological functions. Our results showed that HE has good antioxidant properties and can maintain intestinal homeostasis, which provides a good theoretical basis for the development and research using HE as an effective natural antioxidant for the elderly.

Hydroethanolic Cyperus rotundus L. extract exhibits anti-obesity property and increases lifespan expectancy in Drosophila melanogaster fed a high-fat diet

Introduction: Cyperus rotundus L. is suspected of having anti-obesity properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-obesity property of hydroethanolic C. rotundus extract (HECE) using Drosophila as a model organism. Methods: In vitro inhibition of lipase activity by C. rotundus extract was investigated. The effects of C. rotundus extract on obesity-related characteristics, including body weight, triglyceride content, and lifespan extension were evaluated in Drosophila fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The effect of the extract on the reduction of oxidative stress associated with obesity was assessed in vivo using antioxidant assays in Drosophila. Results: HECE inhibited lipase activity in vitro with an IC50 of 128.24 ± 3.65 μg/mL. In vivo lipase inhibition experiments demonstrated that feeding Drosophila 10 mg/mL HECE or 2 μM orlistat lowered lipase activity by 21.51 (P < 0.05) and 42.86% (P < 0.01) and triglyceride levels by 20.67 (P < 0.05) and 28.39% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to those of the untreated group. After 10 mg/mL HECE or 2 μM orlistat supplementation, an increase in the mean survival rate (10.54 (P < 0.05) and 13.90% (P < 0.01), respectively) and climbing ability (25.03 (P < 0.01) and 28.44% (P < 0.01), respectively) was observed compared to those of flies fed a HFD. The paraquat and H2O2 challenge tests revealed that flies fed HECE in a mixed HFD showed increased survival on flies fed a HFD. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of dietary HECE supplementation on suppressing pancreatic lipase activity and lowering triglyceride levels and oxidative stress, leading to increased lifespan in Drosophila fed a HFD.

Purple sweet potato extract maintains intestinal homeostasis and extend lifespan through increasing autophagy in female Drosophila melanogaster

Purple sweet potatoes extract (PSPE) have been used as a natural food antioxidant with high anthocyanin concentrations. Research investigated the lifespan and the mechanisms of PSPE on female Drosophila melanogaster. Supplementation of PSPE extended the lifespan by 16.3% and had a protective effect on injury by oxidative stress. PSPE treatment enhanced the endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, PSPE significantly up-regulated foxo-related genes, inhibited mTOR mRNA expression, and activated autophagy to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Meanwhile, PSPE improved intestinal barrier dysfunction by 22.86%, decelerated the abnormal proliferation rate of intestinal stem cell (ISCs) by 23.77%, and improved intestinal integrity in geriatric D. melanogaster. In conclusion, PSPE may maintain intestinal homeostasis, and improve the antioxidant and stress resistance capacity through the insulin and rapamycin pathway, thereby extending the lifespan. Therefore, it provides active support to the development and application of PSPE in functional food. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In recent years, with the increase of age, age-related complications have generally increased and seriously affected people's healthy life. Purple sweet potato is a nutrient-rich substance, which not only has a unique color but also contains rich anthocyanins, so it has many potential biological and pharmacological functions. Our results showed that the PSPE had a good effect of maintaining the intestinal homeostasis of the older adult, and provided a favorable theoretical basis for the development of PSPE functional products and scientific academic research.

Lipidome remodeling in aging normal and genetically obese Drosophila males

Lipid homeostasis is essential for insects to maintain phospholipid (PL)-based membrane integrity and to provide on-demand energy supply throughout life. Triacylglycerol (TAG) is the major lipid class used for energy production and is stored in lipid droplets, the universal cellular fat storage organelles. Accumulation and mobilization of TAG are strictly regulated since excessive accumulation of TAG leads to obesity and has been correlated with adverse effects on health- and lifespan across phyla. Little is known, however, about when during adult life and why excessive storage lipid accumulation restricts lifespan. We here used genetically obese Drosophila mutant males, which were all shown to be short-lived compared to control males and applied single fly mass spectrometry-based lipidomics to profile TAG, diacylglycerol and major membrane lipid signatures throughout adult fly life from eclosion to death. Our comparative approach revealed distinct phases of lipidome remodeling throughout aging. Quantitative and qualitative compositional changes of TAG and PL species, which are characterized by the length and saturation of their constituent fatty acids, were pronounced during young adult life. In contrast, lipid signatures of adult and senescent flies were remarkably stable. Genetically obese flies displayed both quantitative and qualitative changes in TAG species composition, while PL signatures were almost unaltered compared to normal flies at all ages. Collectively, this suggests a tight control of membrane composition throughout lifetime largely uncoupled from storage lipid metabolism. Finally, we present first evidence for a characteristic lipid signature of moribund flies, likely generated by a rapid and selective storage lipid depletion close to death. Of note, the analytical power to monitor lipid species profiles combined with high sensitivity of this single fly lipidomics approach is universally applicable to address developmental or behavioral lipid signature modulations of importance for insect life.

Xanthohumol prolongs lifespan and decreases stress-induced mortality in Drosophila melanogaster

Aging is a significant risk factor that links to the genesis of human diseases. The capacity to scavenge free radicals and adapt to various stresses is essential for expanding living organisms' lifespan. The evidences on the promotion of longevity by dietary supplementation are growing. Drosophila or fruit fly is one of the most effective models for the evaluation of anti-aging compounds. Xanthohumol (XN) is a potential bioactive substance for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. The previous studies have reported its potent activities as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial antiplasmodial, and antiobesity. In this study, the effect of XN supplementation on the lifespan extension was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster. The effects of XN on the improvement of the recovery from cold and heat shock, the resistance to starvation stress, and free radical-induced oxidative stress in XN-treated flies were also evaluated. Results showed that supplementation with XN at 0.5 mg/mL diet extended the mean lifespan by 14.89%. This was consistent with a significant improvement of locomotor activity of the Drosophila fed with an XN-mixed diet compared with those fed with a control diet. XN supplementation significantly increased the antioxidant enzyme activities at both 25 and 40 days. Drosophila treated with XN exhibited increased survival after exposure to hydrogen peroxide and paraquat. Finally, XN supplementation improved the recovery from cold and heat shock, the resistance to starvation stress, and acetic acid-induced stress. The present study shows that dietary supplementation with XN revealed the longevity effect and ameliorated stress-induced mortality in Drosophila.

Purple Sweet Potato Extract extends lifespan by activating autophagy pathway in male Drosophila melanogaster

INTRODUCTION

Purple sweet potato is a nutritive food rich in anthocyanins that possess antioxidant effects. Drosophila melanogaster owns short growth cycle, fast reproduction, less chromosomes, more mutants, small individuals, therefore, which is an appropriate genetic model organism.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-aging activity of Purple Sweet Potato Extract (PSPE) in male Drosophila melanogaster and explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

PSPE-induced longevity was associated with improvements in climbing ability and tolerance to stressors such as paraquat and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Furthermore, PSPE supplementation increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as expression of SOD and CAT genes, but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Meanwhile, PSPE decreased the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) proliferation and improved intestinal homeostasis, which was measured by Smurf assay and colony-forming units (CFUs) measurement in aging flies. Additionally, PSPE markedly inhibited the expression of upstream genes AKT-1, PI3K and mTOR and elevated the downstream gene 4E-BP, which further activated the expression of autophagy-related genes (Atg1, Atg5, Atg8a and Atg8b). Moreover, the production of lysosomes increased, indicating that the autophagy pathway was activated.

CONCLUSION

The results provided direct evidence of PSPE anti-aging effects on an organism level, indicating PSPE could be developed for use in effective anti-aging products.

The role of anthocyanins as antidiabetic agents: from molecular mechanisms to in vivo and human studies

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose concentration. Nowadays, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistant diabetes is the most common diabetes, mainly due to unhealthy lifestyle. Healthy habits like appropriate nutritional approaches or the consumption of certain natural products or food supplements have been suggested as non-pharmacological strategies for the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Some of the main bioactive compounds from plant foods are polyphenols, important mainly for their antioxidant capacity in oxidative stress conditions and ageing. Anthocyanins are polyphenols of the flavonoid group, which act as pigments in plants, especially in fruits such as berries. A search of in vitro, in vivo and human studies in relation with antidiabetic properties of anthocyanins has been performed in different electronic databases. Results of this review demonstrate that these compounds have the ability to inhibit different enzymes as well as to influence gene expression and metabolic pathways of glucose, such as AMPK, being able to modulate diabetes and other associated disorders, as hyperlipidaemia, overweight, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, human interventional studies have shown that high doses of anthocyanins have potential in the prevention or treatment of type 2 diabetes; nevertheless, anthocyanins used in these studies should be standardized and quantified in order to make general conclusions about its use and to claim benefits for the human population.

Potential implications of polyphenols on aging considering oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota

Naturally occurring compounds polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants, comprised several categories, namely, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and stilbenes. The biological aging process is driven by a series of interrelated mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation status, and autophagy function, through diverse signaling pathways. Moreover, the crucial role of gut microbiota in regulating aging and health status was widely demonstrated. In recent years, the potential anti-aging benefits of polyphenols have been gaining increasing scientific interest due to their capability to modulate oxidative damage, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota. This review highlights the influence of polyphenols in preventing aging disorders and augmenting lifespan based on the influence of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota, and encourages research on novel polyphenol-based strategies and clinical trials to develop a nutrition-oriented holistic anti-aging therapy.

Longevity-promoting efficacies of rutin in high fat diet fed Drosophila melanogaster

Composition of diet significantly impacts lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Diet-composition becomes even more crucial while assessing a phytocompound for probable pro-longevity effects in flies. Rutin is a flavonol glycoside present in apple, buckwheat, black tea and green tea. Our previous study had reported hormetic efficacy of rutin to improve longevity and other physiological parameters in Drosophila melanogaster fed with standard diet. This study aimed to understand whether rutin could exhibit similar longevity promoting effects in flies fed with a high fat diet (HFD). In this study, wild type Canton-S males and females were reared on high fat diet (HFD) treated with or without rutin at different doses (100-800 µM) and assessed for survival, food intake, fecundity, locomotion, development, resistance to various forms of stresses and relative mRNA expression of specific genes associated with ageing, namely dFoxO, MnSod, Cat, dTsc1, dTsc2, Thor, dAtg1, dAtg5, dAtg7 and dTor. Rutin at only 400 µM significantly improved survival in males fed with HFD; while at 200 µM and 400 µM it significantly improved survival in females. Doses beyond 400 µM proved detrimental for both sexes. Rutin at 200 µM and 400 µM significantly reduced average food intake in both males and females fed with HFD. A significant reduction in number of eggs laid per female per day was observed in females treated with rutin at 400 µM. Rutin at 200 µM and 400 µM significantly improved climbing efficiency in males and females. A significant reduction in eclosion time was observed in larvae fed with HFD and treated with rutin at 400 µM. Rutin at 400 µM significantly improved resistance of males and females to different stresses namely heat shock, cold shock and starvation stresses. Interestingly, rutin at 400 µM significantly reduced survival of males and females exposed to oxidative stress. In males fed with HFD, rutin at 200 µM showed significantly increased relative expression of dFoxo, MnSod, Cat, dAtg1, dAtg5 and dAtg7; at 400 µM it significantly increased the relative expression of dFoxO, MnSod, Cat, dTsc1, dTsc2, Thor, dAtg1, dAtg5, dAtg7 while decreasing relative expression of dTor. Thus, data from this study collectively showed that rutin at 400 µM and to an extent 200 µM positively impacted lifespan and modulated other physiological parameters in males and females fed with HFD.

Bioactive peptides derived from crimson snapper and in vivo anti-aging effects on fat diet-induced high fat Drosophila melanogaster

Crimson snapper scale peptides (CSSPs) prepared from crimson snapper scales exhibited significant antioxidant activity in vitro and anti-aging effects in vivo on fat diet-induced high fat Drosophila melanogaster.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides extend the mean lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

The fruits of Lycium barbarum are considered medicinal foods with high nutritional value and bioactivity.

Drosophila melanogaster as a Versatile Model Organism in Food and Nutrition Research

Drosophila melanogaster has been widely used in the biological sciences as a model organism. Drosophila has a relatively short life span of 60-80 days, which makes it attractive for life span studies. Moreover, approximately 60% of the fruit fly genes are orthologs to mammals. Thus, metabolic and signal transduction pathways are highly conserved. Maintenance and reproduction of Drosophila do not require sophisticated equipment and are rather cheap. Furthermore, there are fewer ethical issues involved in experimental Drosophila research compared with studies in laboratory rodents, such as rats and mice. Drosophila is increasingly recognized as a model organism in food and nutrition research. Drosophila is often fed complex solid diets based on yeast, corn, and agar. There are also so-called holidic diets available that are defined in terms of their amino acid, fatty acid, carbohydrate, vitamin, mineral, and trace element compositions. Feed intake, body composition, locomotor activity, intestinal barrier function, microbiota, cognition, fertility, aging, and life span can be systematically determined in Drosophila in response to dietary factors. Furthermore, diet-induced pathophysiological mechanisms including inflammation and stress responses may be evaluated in the fly under defined experimental conditions. Here, we critically evaluate Drosophila melanogaster as a versatile model organism in experimental food and nutrition research, review the corresponding data in the literature, and make suggestions for future directions of research.

Effects of polysaccharides from purple sweet potatoes on immune response and gut microbiota composition in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice

Three polysaccharides were extracted from purple sweet potatoes and then administered to normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice by gavage.