Carnosol Improved Lifespan and Healthspan by Promoting Antioxidant Capacity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Aging-associated Alterations in the Gene Regulatory Network Landscape Associate with Risk, Prognosis and Response to Therapy in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Aging is the primary risk factor for many individual cancer types, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). To understand how aging-related alterations in the regulation of key cellular processes might affect LUAD risk and survival outcomes, we built individual (person)-specific gene regulatory networks integrating gene expression, transcription factor protein-protein interaction, and sequence motif data, using PANDA/LIONESS algorithms, for both non-cancerous lung tissue samples from the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) project and LUAD samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). In GTEx, we found that pathways involved in cell proliferation and immune response are increasingly targeted by regulatory transcription factors with age; these aging-associated alterations are accelerated by tobacco smoking and resemble oncogenic shifts in the regulatory landscape observed in LUAD and suggests that dysregulation of aging pathways might be associated with an increased risk of LUAD. Comparing normal adjacent samples from individuals with LUAD with healthy lung tissue samples from those without LUAD, we found that aging-associated genes show greater aging-biased targeting patterns in younger individuals with LUAD compared to their healthy counterparts of similar age, a pattern suggestive of age acceleration. This implies that an accelerated aging process may be responsible for tumor incidence in younger individuals. Using drug repurposing tool CLUEreg, we found small molecule drugs with potential geroprotective effects that may alter the accelerating aging profiles we found. We also observed that, in contrast to chronological age, a network-informed aging signature was associated with survival and response to chemotherapy in LUAD.

Carnosol attenuates angiotensin II-induced cardiac remodeling and inflammation via directly binding to p38 and inhibiting p38 activation

Chronic inflammation is a significant contributor to hypertensive heart failure. Carnosol (Car), primarily derived from the sage plant (Salvia carnosa), exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in a range of systems. Nevertheless, the influence of angiotensin II (Ang II) on cardiac remodeling remains uncharted. Car was shown to protect mice's hearts against Ang II-induced heart damage at dosages of 20 and 40 mg/kg/d. This protection was evident in a concentration-related decrease in the remodeling of the heart and dysfunction. Examination of the transcriptome revealed that the pivotal roles in mediating the protective effects of Car involved inhibiting Ang II-induced inflammation and the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, Car was found to inhibit p38 phosphorylation, therefore reducing the level of inflammation in cultured cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts. This effect was attributed to the direct binding to p38 and inhibition of p38 protein phosphorylation by Car both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the effects of Car on inflammation were neutralized when p38 was blocked in cardiomyocytes.

Defense against oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans by dark tea

Dark tea, rich in nutricines including tea polyphenols and free amino acids, is a kind of post-fermented tea. The potential application of nutricines against oxidative damage and senescence, which drives animal health maintenance and disease prevention, has attracted considerable interest. In this study, the effect of dark tea and its effects on longevity and defense against oxidative stress was investigated in the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. Under normal conditions, dark tea extended the lifespan without significant impairment of propagation. It also improved the motility, alleviated the fat accumulation and apoptosis. Additionally, orally administered dark tea could significantly decrease the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resulted in a superior lifespan in H2O2-induced oxidative stressed C. elegans. In antioxidant assays in vitro, dark tea was found to be rich in strong hydroxyl, DPPH and ABTS+ free radical scavenging capacity. Interestingly, mRNA sequence analyses further revealed that dark tea may catalyze intracellular relevant oxidative substrates and synthesize antioxidants through synthetic and metabolic pathways. These results suggest that dark tea is worth further exploration as a potential dietary supplement for the maintenance of animal health and the prevention of related diseases.

Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model for the identification of natural antioxidants with anti-aging actions

Natural antioxidants have recently emerged as a highly exciting and significant topic in anti-aging research. Diverse organism models present a viable protocol for future research. Notably, many breakthroughs on natural antioxidants have been achieved in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, an animal model frequently utilized for the study of aging research and anti-aging drugs in vivo. Due to the conservation of signaling pathways on oxidative stress resistance, lifespan regulation, and aging disease between C. elegans and multiple high-level organisms (humans), as well as the low and controllable cost of time and labor, it gradually develops into a trustworthy in vivo model for high-throughput screening and validation of natural antioxidants with anti-aging actions. First, information and models on free radicals and aging are presented in this review. We also describe indexes, detection methods, and molecular mechanisms for studying the in vivo antioxidant and anti-aging effects of natural antioxidants using C. elegans. It includes lifespan, physiological aging processes, oxidative stress levels, antioxidant enzyme activation, and anti-aging pathways. Furthermore, oxidative stress and healthspan improvement induced by natural antioxidants in humans and C. elegans are compared, to understand the potential and limitations of the screening model in preclinical studies. Finally, we emphasize that C. elegans is a useful model for exploring more natural antioxidant resources and uncovering the mechanisms underlying aging-related risk factors and diseases.

Anti-Aging Activity and Modes of Action of Compounds from Natural Food Sources

Aging is a natural and inescapable phenomenon characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological functions, leading to increased vulnerability to chronic diseases and death. With economic and medical development, the elderly population is gradually increasing, which poses a great burden to society, the economy and the medical field. Thus, healthy aging has now become a common aspiration among people over the world. Accumulating evidence indicates that substances that can mediate the deteriorated physiological processes are highly likely to have the potential to prolong lifespan and improve aging-associated diseases. Foods from natural sources are full of bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, terpenoids and vitamins. These bioactive compounds and their derivatives have been shown to be able to delay aging and/or improve aging-associated diseases, thereby prolonging lifespan, via regulation of various physiological processes. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the anti-aging activities of the compounds, polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, terpenoids and vitamins from natural food sources, and their modes of action in delaying aging and improving aging-associated diseases. This will certainly provide a reference for further research on the anti-aging effects of bioactive compounds from natural food sources.

Mitophagy-promoting agents and their ability to promote healthy-aging

The removal of damaged mitochondrial components through a process called mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is essential for the proper function of the mitochondrial network. Hence, mitophagy is vital for the health of all aerobic animals, including humans. Unfortunately, mitophagy declines with age. Many age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are characterized by the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and oxidative damage. Therefore, activating the mitophagy process with small molecules is an emerging strategy for treating multiple aging diseases. Recent studies have identified natural and synthetic compounds that promote mitophagy and lifespan. This article aims to summarize the existing knowledge about these substances. For readers' convenience, the knowledge is presented in a table that indicates the chemical data of each substance and its effect on lifespan. The impact on healthspan and the molecular mechanism is reported if known. The article explores the potential of utilizing a combination of mitophagy-inducing drugs within a therapeutic framework and addresses the associated challenges of this strategy. Finally, we discuss the process that balances mitophagy, i.e. mitochondrial biogenesis. In this process, new mitochondrial components are generated to replace the ones cleared by mitophagy. Furthermore, some mitophagy-inducing substances activate biogenesis (e.g. resveratrol and metformin). Finally, we discuss the possibility of combining mitophagy and biogenesis enhancers for future treatment. In conclusion, this article provides an up-to-date source of information about natural and synthetic substances that activate mitophagy and, hopefully, stimulates new hypotheses and studies that promote healthy human aging worldwide.

Carnosol inhibits cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by promoting AMPK activation

BACKGROUND

Carnosol is a phytopolyphenol (diterpene) found and extracted from plants of Mediterranean diet, which has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, its role in ischemic stroke has not been elucidated.

METHODS

Primary neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to investigate the effect of carnosol in vitro. A mouse MCAO model was used to evaluate the effect of carnosol on ischemic stroke in vivo. The mRNA level of inflammatory and apoptosis-related genes was determined by RT-PCR. The protein level of total and phosphorylated AMPK was determined by WB. H&E and Immunofluorescent assay was used to investigate the necrosis, inflammation and apoptosis in brain tissue.

RESULTS

Carnosol protected the activity of primary neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro, as well as inhibited inflammation and apoptosis. Furthermore, carnosol could significantly reduce the infarct and edema volume and protect against neurological deficit in vivo, and had a significant inhibitory effect on brain neuroinflammation and apoptosis. Mechanically, carnosol could activate AMPK, and the effect of carnosol on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury cell model could be abolished by AMPK phosphorylation inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

Carnosol has a protective effect on ischemic stroke, and this effect is achieved through AMPK activation. Our study demonstrates the protective effect of carnosol on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and provides a new perspective for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Glycolic Extract Protects Liver Mitochondria from Oxidative Damage and Prevents Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) is an aromatic culinary herb. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is currently cultivated worldwide. In addition to its use as a condiment in food preparation and in teas, rosemary has been widely employed in folk medicine and cosmetics. Several beneficial effects have been described for rosemary, including antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Here, we investigated the mechanisms accounting for the antioxidant activity of the glycolic extract of R. officinalis (Ro) in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM) under oxidative stress conditions. We also investigated its protective effect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo. A crude extract was obtained by fractionated percolation, using propylene glycol as a solvent due to its polarity and cosmeceutical compatibility. The quantification of substances with recognized antioxidant action revealed the presence of phenols and flavonoids. Dereplication studies carried out through LC-MS/MS and GC-MS, supported by The Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform, annotated several phenolic compounds, confirming the previous observation. In accordance, Ro decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) elicited by Fe2+ or t-BOOH and inhibited the lipid peroxidation of mitochondrial membranes in a concentration-dependent manner in RLM. Such an effect was also observed in liposomes as membrane models. Ro also prevented the oxidation of mitochondrial protein thiol groups and reduced glutathione (GSH). In model systems, Ro exhibited a potent scavenger activity toward 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide anions. It also demonstrated an Fe2+ chelating activity. Moreover, Ro did not exhibit cytotoxicity or dissipate the mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψ) in rat liver fibroblasts (BRL3A cells). To evaluate whether such antioxidant protective activity observed in vitro could also be achieved in vivo, a well-established model of hepatotoxicity induced by acute exposure to acetaminophen (AAP) was used. This model depletes GSH and promotes oxidative-stress-mediated tissue damage. The treatment of rats with 0.05% Ro, administered intraperitoneally for four days, resulted in inhibition of AAP-induced lipid peroxidation of the liver and the prevention of hepatotoxicity, maintaining alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) levels equal to those of the normal, non-treated rats. Together, these findings highlight the potent antioxidant activity of rosemary, which is able to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage in vitro, and effects such as the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects observed in vivo.

Planococcus maritimu ML1206 Strain Enhances Stress Resistance and Extends the Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans via FOXO/DAF-16

The antioxidant effect of probiotics has been widely recognized across the world, which is of great significance in food, medicine, and aquaculture. There are abundant marine microbial resources in the ocean, which provide a new space for humans to explore new probiotics. Previously, we reported on the anti-infective effects of Planococcus maritimu ML1206, a potential marine probiotic. The antioxidant activity of ML1206 in C. elegans was studied in this paper. The study showed that ML1206 could improve the ability of nematodes to resist oxidative stress and effectively prolong their lifespan. The results confirmed that ML1206 could significantly increase the activities of CAT and GSH-PX, and reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nematodes under oxidative stress conditions. In addition, ML1206 promoted DAF-16 transfer to the nucleus and upregulated the expression of sod-3, hsp-16.2, and ctl-2, which are downstream antioxidant-related genes of DAF-16. Furthermore, the expression of the SOD-3::GFP and HSP-16.2::GFP was significantly higher in the transgenic strains fed with ML1206 than that in the control group fed with OP50, with or without stress. In summary, these findings suggest that ML1206 is a novel marine probiotic with an antioxidant function that stimulates nematodes to improve their defense abilities against oxidative stress and prolong the lifespan by regulating the translocation of FOXO/DAF-16. Therefore, ML1206 may be explored as a potential dietary supplement in aquaculture and for anti-aging and antioxidant purposes.

Cryptotanshinone Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Reduces the Level of Abnormally Aggregated Protein in Caenorhabditis elegans AD Models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia. As the first common neurodegenerative disease, there are no effective drugs that can reverse the progression. The present study is to report the anti-AD effect of cryptotanshinone (CTS), a natural product isolated from Salvia castanea. It is found that it can alleviate AD-like features associated with Aβ_1-42 toxicity in muscle cells as well as neuronal cells of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Further studies showed that CTS reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nematodes, up-regulated the expression of sod-3, and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity. Cryptotanshinone reduced the level of Aβ monomers and highly toxic oligomers in C. elegans while inhibiting the abnormal aggregation of polyglutamine protein. In addition, CTS upregulated the expression of hsp-16.2 and downregulated the expression of ace-2. These results suggested that CTS could alleviate oxidative stress and reduce the level of abnormally aggregated proteins and has the potential to be developed as an anti-AD drug candidate.

Carnosol Reduced Pathogenic Protein Aggregation and Cognitive Impairment in Neurodegenerative Diseases Models via Improving Proteostasis and Ameliorating Mitochondrial Disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease are incurable diseases with progressive loss of neural function and require urgent development of effective treatments. Carnosol (CL) reportedly has a pharmacological effect in the prevention of dementia. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of CL's neuroprotection are not entirely clear. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of CL-mediated neuroprotection through Caenorhabditis elegans models. First, CL restored ND protein homeostasis via inhibiting the IIS pathway, regulating MAPK signaling, and simultaneously activating molecular chaperone, thus inhibiting amyloid peptide (Aβ), polyglutamine (polyQ), and α-synuclein (α-syn) deposition and reducing protein disruption-mediated behavioral and cognitive impairments as well as neuronal damages. Furthermore, CL could repair mitochondrial structural damage via improving the mitochondrial membrane protein function and mitochondrial structural homeostasis and improve mitochondrial functional defects via increasing adenosine triphosphate contents, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species levels, suggesting that CL could improve the ubiquitous mitochondrial defects in NDs. More importantly, we found that CL activated mitochondrial kinetic homeostasis related genes to improve the mitochondrial homeostasis and dysfunction in NDs. Meanwhile, CL up-regulated unc-17, cho-1, and cha-1 genes to alleviate Aβ-mediated cholinergic neurological disorders and activated Notch signaling and the Wnt pathway to diminish polyQ- and α-syn-induced ASH neurons as well as dopaminergic neuron damages. Overall, our study clarified the beneficial anti-ND neuroprotective effects of CL in different aspects and provided new insights into developing CL into products with preventive and therapeutic effects on NDs.

Structural features and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from different parts of Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen

In this study, three acidic polysaccharides from different plant parts of Codonopsis pilosula var. Modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen were obtained by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, and the yields of these three polysaccharides were different. According to the preliminary experimental results, the antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides from rhizomes and fibrous roots (CLFP-1) were poor, and was thus not studied further. Due to this the structural features of polysaccharides from roots (CLRP-1) and aerial parts (CLSP-1) were the object for this study and were structurally characterized, and their antioxidant activities were evaluated. As revealed by the results, the molecular weight of CLRP-1and CLSP-1 were 15.9 kDa and 26.4 kDa, respectively. The monosaccharide composition of CLRP-1 was Ara, Rha, Fuc, Xyl, Man, Gal, GlcA, GalA in a ratio of 3.8: 8.4: 1.0: 0.8: 2.4: 7.4: 7.5: 2.0: 66.7, and Ara, Rha, Gal, GalA in a ratio of 5.8: 8.9: 8.0: 77.0 in for CLSP-1. The results of structural elucidation indicated that both CLRP-1 and CLSP-1 were pectic polysaccharides, mainly composed of 1, 4-linked galacturonic acid with long homogalacturonan regions. Arabinogalactan type I and arabinogalactan type II were presented as side chains. The antioxidant assay in IPEC-J2 cells showed that both CLRP-1 and CLSP-1 promoted cell viability and antioxidant activity, which significantly increase the level of total antioxidant capacity and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and decrease the content of malondialdehyde. Moreover, CLRP-1 and CLSP-1 also showed powerful antioxidant abilities in Caenorhabditis elegans and might regulate the nuclear localization of DAF-16 transcription factor, induced antioxidant enzymes activities, and further reduced reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde contents to increase the antioxidant ability of Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, these finding suggest that CLRP-1 and CLSP-1 could be used as potential antioxidants.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside promotes stress tolerance and lifespan extension of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to polystyrene via DAF-16 pathway

Microplastic pollution has attracted growing attention due to its prevalent and persistent exposure to general population through the food chain, but few reports have focused on the toxicological prevention of polystyrene (PS). Using the wild-type and mutant strains, this study explored the impacts of PS and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) on stress tolerance and lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). In N2 nematodes, PS exposure initiated the oxidative stress and subsequent lifespan reduction, while these adverse impacts could be positively improved by C3G treatment. Considering the pivotal role of DAF-16 pathway in stress tolerance and lifespan regulation, the expression of the daf-16 gene and its downstream antioxidant genes (clt-2, hsp-16.1, sod-3, sod-5) were examined, and found to be significantly enhanced by C3G. Since the sod-3 gene was up-regulated the most fold by C3G, the activity of SOD enzyme that encoded by the sod-3 was examined, and could be obviously enhanced upon C3G treatment. This explained the improved oxidative stress and delayed oxidation-associated aging after C3G intervention. Nevertheless, these positive effects of C3G were weakened in daf-16(-) mutant strain (with deleted DAF-16 gene), for which the beneficial effects of C3G in promoting stress resistance and lifespan extension were inhibited. These findings suggested that the DAF-16 gene and its downstream antioxidant genes, have participated in C3G's regulations on redox balance and lifespan that impacted by nano-polystyrene particles. This study highlighted the link between dietary components and environmentally driven disturbance.

Carnosol alleviates sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction by mediating NF-κB pathway in aged rats

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD) is a neurological disorder of unconsciousness due to cognitive regression after surgical anesthesia. However, the specific mechanism has not yet been clarified. Sevoflurane (SEV) is one of the most commonly used anesthetics in clinical practice, and how SEV mediates the generation of POCD is unclear. Carnosol, a natural ingredient, has been reported to have various beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory, immune enhancement, and so forth, but how it ameliorates SEV-mediated neurotoxicity remains unclear. This study aimed to induce a POCD model in aged rats by SEV and to elucidate how Carnosol ameliorated SEV-mediated neurotoxicity. The effects of Carnosol on the expression of inflammatory factors in rat hippocampus mediated by SEV were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction experiments; the effects of Carnosol on the expressions of Iba-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein after SEV-mediated activation of rat microglia were clarified by immunofluorescence and Western blotting (WB); The effects of Carnosol on SEV-mediated neuronal apoptosis were studied by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and WB; the specific signaling pathways regulated by Carnosol were elucidated by WB. The results showed that Carnosol can improve the cognitive dysfunction and reduce neuroinflammation in aged rats induced by SEV; Carnosol can reduce the activation of microglia and inhibit neuronal apoptosis in aged rats induced by SEV; Carnosol can phosphorylate p65 and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha regulates the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. Carnosol can attenuate SEV-induced neuroinflammation, prevent microglial activation and inhibit neuronal apoptosis by modulating the NF-κB pathway.

Carnosol, a diterpene present in rosemary, increases ELP1 levels in familial Dysautonomia (FD) patient-derived cells and healthy adults: a possible therapy for FD

Recent research on Familial Dysautonomia (FD) has focused on the development of therapeutics that facilitate the production of the correctly spliced, exon 20-containing, transcript in cells and individuals bearing the splice-altering, FD-causing, mutation in the ELP1 gene. We report here the ability of carnosol, a diterpene present in plant species of the Lamiaceae family, including rosemary, to enhance the cellular presence of the correctly spliced ELP1 transcript in FD patient-derived fibroblasts by upregulating transcription of the ELP1 gene and correcting the aberrant splicing of the ELP1 transcript. Carnosol treatment also elevates the level of the RBM24 and RBM38 proteins., two multifunctional RNA binding proteins. Transfection-mediated expression of either of these RBMs facilitates the inclusion of exon 20 sequence into the transcript generated from a minigene bearing ELP1 genomic sequence containing the FD-causing mutation. Suppression of the carnosol-mediated induction of either of these RBMs, using targeting siRNAs, limited the carnosol-mediated inclusion of the ELP1 exon 20 sequence. Carnosol treatment of FD patient PBMCs facilitates the inclusion of exon 20 into the ELP1 transcript. Increased levels of the ELP1 and RBM38 transcripts and the alternative splicing of the SIRT2 transcript, a sentinel for exon 20 inclusion in the FD-derived ELP1 transcript, are observed in RNA isolated from whole blood of healthy adults following the ingestion of carnosol-containing rosemary extract. These findings and the excellent safety profile of rosemary together justify an expedited clinical study of the impact of carnosol on the FD patient population.

Bioactive Phytochemicals with Anti-Aging and Lifespan Extending Potentials in Caenorhabditis elegans

In the forms of either herbs or functional foods, plants and their products have attracted medicinal, culinary, and nutraceutical applications due to their abundance in bioactive phytochemicals. Human beings and other animals have employed those bioactive phytochemicals to improve health quality based on their broad potentials as antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-aging effects, amongst others. For the past decade and half, efforts to discover bioactive phytochemicals both in pure and crude forms have been intensified using the Caenorhabditis elegans aging model, in which various metabolic pathways in humans are highly conserved. In this review, we summarized the aging and longevity pathways that are common to C. elegans and humans and collated some of the bioactive phytochemicals with health benefits and lifespan extending effects that have been studied in C. elegans. This simple animal model is not only a perfect system for discovering bioactive compounds but is also a research shortcut for elucidating the amelioration mechanisms of aging risk factors and associated diseases.

Oleuropein Enhances Stress Resistance and Extends Lifespan via Insulin/IGF-1 and SKN-1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

Oleuropein (OLE) is a secoiridoid glycoside that mainly exists in olives with multifaceted health benefits. The present study aimed to investigate the stress resistance and lifespan extension effects of OLE in Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that OLE could significantly prolong the lifespan of C. elegans by 22.29%. Treatment with OLE also significantly increased the survival rates of worms against lethal heat shock and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, OLE supplementation increased the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and suppressed the generation of malondialdehyde in nematodes. In addition, the results from mutants implied that OLE might mediate longevity and stress resistance via DAF-16/FoxO, which played a vital role in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway. To further identify the molecular targets of OLE, mRNA level and loss-of-function mutants of IIS-associated genes were investigated. The data revealed that OLE activated IIS by down-regulating the upstream components, daf-2 and age-1. Furthermore, another stress response and longevity pathway in parallel to DAF-16, SKN-1/Nrf2, was also shown to involve in OLE-induced beneficial effects. Collectively, these results provide the theoretical basis that OLE could enhance the stress resistance and increase the lifespan of C. elegans through the IIS and SKN-1/Nrf2 signaling pathways.

Neuroprotective Effects against Glutamate-Induced HT-22 Hippocampal Cell Damage and Caenorhabditis elegans Lifespan/Healthspan Enhancing Activity of Auricularia polytricha Mushroom Extracts

Oxidative stress is associated with several diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, commonly found in the elderly. The attenuation of oxidative status is one of the alternatives for neuroprotection and anti-aging. Auricularia polytricha (AP), an edible mushroom, contains many therapeutic properties, including antioxidant properties. Herein, we report the effects of AP extracts on antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-aging activities. The neuroprotective effect of AP extracts against glutamate-induced HT-22 neuronal damage was determined by evaluating the cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and expression of antioxidant enzyme genes. Lifespan and healthspan assays were performed to examine the effects of AP extracts from Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that ethanolic extract (APE) attenuated glutamate-induced HT-22 cytotoxicity and increased the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes. Moreover, APE promoted in the longevity and health of the C. elegans. Chemical analysis of the extracts revealed that APE contains the highest quantity of flavonoids and a reasonable percentage of phenols. The lipophilic compounds in APE were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing that APE mainly contains linoleic acid. Interestingly, linoleic acid suppressed neuronal toxicity and ROS accumulation from glutamate induction. These results indicate that AP could be an exciting natural source that may potentially serves as neuroprotective and anti-aging agents.

Carnosol induces the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells via activating BMP-signaling pathway

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene phytochemical found in rosemary and sage with reported anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect of carnosol on the lineage commitment of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Interestingly, carnosol stimulated the early commitment of mBMSCs into osteoblasts in dose-dependent manner as demonstrated by increased levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and Alizarin red staining for matrix mineralization. On the other hand, carnosol significantly suppressed adipogenesis of mBMSCs and downregulated both early and late markers of adipogenesis. Carnosol showed to induce osteogenesis in a mechanism mediated by activating BMP signaling pathway and subsequently upregulating the expression of BMPs downstream osteogenic target genes. In this context, treatment of mBMSCs with LDN-193189, BMPR1 selective inhibitor showed to abolish the stimulatory effect of carnosol on BMP2-induced osteogenesis. In conclusion, our data identified carnosol as a novel osteoanabolic phytochemical that can promote the differentiation of mBMSCs into osteoblasts versus adipocytes by activating BMP-signaling.

Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A

INTRODUCTION

Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants. The steroidal lactone withanolide A (WA) from Withania somnifera may be a promising alternative. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as model to explore WA's anti-depressive and anti-stress potential.

METHODS

C. elegans wildtype (N2) and deficient strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109 and MT9772) were used to assess oxidative, osmotic or heat stress as measured by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), determination of lifespan, and mRNA expression of serotonin receptor (ser-1, ser-4, ser-7) and serotonin transporter genes (mod-5). The protective effect of WA was compared to fluoxetine as clinically established antidepressant. Additionally, WA's effect on lifespan was determined. Furthermore, the binding affinities and pKi values of WA, fluoxetine and serotonin as natural ligand to Ser-1, Ser-4, Ser-7, Mod-5 and their human orthologues proteins were calculated by molecular docking.

RESULTS

Baseline oxidative stress was higher in deficient than wildtype worms. WA and fluoxetine reduced ROS levels in all strains except MT9772. WA and fluoxetine prolonged survival times in wildtype and mutants under osmotic stress. WA but not fluoxetine increased lifespan of all heat-stressed C. elegans strains except DA2100. Furthermore, WA but not fluoxetine extended lifespan in all non-stressed C. elegans strains. WA also induced mRNA expression of serotonin receptors and transporters in wildtype and mutants. WA bound with higher affinity and lower pKi values to all C. elegans and human serotonin receptors and transporters than serotonin, indicating that WA may competitively displaced serotonin from the binding pockets of these proteins.

CONCLUSION

WA reduced stress and increased lifespan by ROS scavenging and interference with the serotonin system. Hence, WA may serve as promising candidate to treat depression.

Ballodiolic Acid A and B: Two New ROS, (•OH), (ONOO-) Scavenging and Potent Antimicrobial Constituents Isolated from Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth

Bioassays guided phytochemical investigations on the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the root material of Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. led to the isolation of two new compounds, ballodiolic acid A (1) and ballodiolic acid B (2), along with three known compounds ballodiolic acid (3), ballotenic acid (4), and β-amyrin (5), which were also isolated for the first time from this species by using multiple chromatographic techniques. The structures of the compounds (1–5) were determined by modern spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical studies. In three separate experiments, the isolated compounds (1–5) demonstrated potent antioxidant scavenging activity, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 07.22–34.10 μM in the hydroxyl radical (^•OH) inhibitory activity test, 58.10–148.55 μM in the total ROS (reactive oxygen species) inhibitory activity test, and 6.23–69.01 μM in the peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) scavenging activity test. With IC₅₀ values of (07.22 ± 0.03, 58.10 ± 0.07, 6.23 ± 0.04 μM) for ^•OH, total ROS, and scavenge ONOO⁻, respectively, ballodiolic acid B (2) showed the highest scavenging ability. Antibacterial and antifungal behaviors were also exposed to the pure compounds 1–5. In contrast to compounds 4 and 5, compounds 1–3 were active against all bacterial strains studied, with a good zone of inhibition proving these as a potent antibacterial agent. Similarly, compared to compounds 3–5, compounds 1 and 2 with a 47 percent and 45 percent respective inhibition zone were found to be more active against tested fungal strains.

Rebaudioside A Enhances Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Extends Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Non-nutritive sweeteners are widely used in food and medicines to reduce energy content without compromising flavor. Herein, we report that Rebaudioside A (Reb A), a natural, non-nutritive sweetener, can extend both the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans. The beneficial effects of Reb A were principally mediated via reducing the level of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to oxidative stress and attenuating neutral lipid accumulation with aging. Transcriptomics analysis presented maximum differential expression of genes along the target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway, which was further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR); while lipidomics uncovered concomitant reductions in the levels of phosphatidic acids (PAs), phosphatidylinositols (PIs) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in worms treated with Reb A. Our results suggest that Reb A attenuates aging by acting as effective cellular antioxidants and also in lowering the ectopic accumulation of neutral lipids.

Extracts of the Tiger Milk Mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) Enhance Stress Resistance and Extend Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans via the DAF-16/FoxO Signaling Pathway

The tiger milk mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerus (LR), exhibits antioxidant properties, as shown in a few in vitro experiments. The aim of this research was to study whether three LR extracts exhibit antioxidant activities in Caenorhabditis elegans. In wild-type N2 nematodes, we determined the survival rate under oxidative stress caused by increased intracellular ROS concentrations. Transgenic strains, including TJ356, TJ375, CF1553, CL2166, and LD1, were used to detect the expression of DAF-16, HSP-16.2, SOD-3, GST-4, and SKN-1, respectively. Lifespan, lipofuscin, and pharyngeal pumping rates were assessed. Three LR extracts (ethanol, and cold and hot water) protected the worms from oxidative stress and decreased intracellular ROS. The extracts exhibited antioxidant properties through the DAF-16/FOXO pathway, leading to SOD-3 and HSP-16.2 modification. However, the expression of SKN-1 and GST-4 was not changed. All the extracts extended the lifespan. They also reduced lipofuscin (a marker for aging) and influenced the pharyngeal pumping rate (another marker for aging). The extracts did not cause dietary restriction. This novel study provides evidence of the functional antioxidant and anti-aging properties of LR. Further studies must confirm that they are suitable for use as antioxidant supplements.

Healthspan Improvements in Caenorhabditis elegans with Traditional Chinese Herbal Tea

Searching for natural and safe herbal tea with health benefits has attracted more and more attention, which is of great significance for reducing disease risk. A Chinese traditional herbal tea (HT) is rich in active ingredients extracted from natural plants. Numerous pharmacological studies showed that HT had the potential to improve health, including antidepression and antioxidant effects. In this study, we proposed a strategy to explore the role and underlying mechanism of HT in improving healthspan of a Caenorhabditis elegans model. First, we found that HT significantly prolonged the lifespan without reducing fertility in worms. Second, stress resistance (oxidative stress and heat stress) was enhanced and Aβ- and polyQ-induced toxicity was relieved significantly by HT treatment. Both fat deposition and age pigment accumulation were found to be significantly reduced in HT-treated worms. The locomotion in mid-late stages was improved, indicating that behavioral mobility was also significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the main components of HT were eighteen polyphenols and two terpenoids. Finally, it was found that this protective mechanism was positively correlated with the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling- (IIS-) dependent manner, which went through promoting the nuclear localization of DAF-16 and its downstream SOD-3 expression. These results suggested that HT had an important role in improving health, which might serve as a promising healthy tea.

Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant effects of green microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa polysaccharide by regulation of microRNAs and gut microbiota in Caenorhabditis elegans

A novel polysaccharide from Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CPP) was separated and purified with the average molecular weight 15.8 kDa. It was composed of seven monosaccharides including mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose. FT-IR and NMR spectra analysis further revealed that CPP was an acidic polysaccharide consisting of β-L-Arap-(1→, →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, β-D-GlcpA-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →3)-β-D-Manp-(1→, and →3, 6)-β-D-Galp-(1→. The CPP treatment could effectively prolong lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans under the oxidative stress conditions and inhibit the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as enhancing the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). It could up-regulate the expressions of Daf-16 and Skn-1 genes via declining miR-48-3p, miR-48-5p, and miR-51-5p translocation. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the CPP-enriched Faecalibacterium, Haemophilus, Vibrio, and Shewanella were strongly correlated with SOD, MDA, apoptosis, and ROS. These results indicated that CPP may be considered as a desired ingredient on regulating the aging and oxidative diseases.

Plant and fungal products that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model to study aging due to its short lifespan, ease of manipulation, and available genetic tools. Several molecules and extracts derived from plants and fungi extend the lifespan of C. elegans by modulating aging-related pathways that are conserved in more complex organisms. Modulation of aging pathways leads to activation of autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis and expression of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes in a manner similar to caloric restriction. Low and moderate concentrations of plant and fungal molecules usually extend lifespan, while high concentrations are detrimental, consistent with a lifespan-modulating mechanism involving hormesis. We review here molecules and extracts derived from plants and fungi that extend the lifespan of C. elegans, and explore the possibility that these natural substances may produce health benefits in humans.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves extract against acrylamide-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans

Acrylamide (ACR), as a raw material of polyacrylamide that used in water purification, was verified to possess various toxicity. Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TH) is a medicinal plant widely used to anti-inflammation and anti-tumor in Chinese folks. However, more researches focused on the biological activities in tubers and the leaves were ignored. Thus, the protective effect of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves extract (THLE) against ACR-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was explored in this study. In vitro, we observed that THLE attenuated ACR-induced toxicity in HepG2 cell via regulating Akt/mTOR/FOXO1/MAPK signaling pathway. Further research proved that 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CA) plays a major role in THLE's amelioration effect of ACR toxicity. In vivo, it was found that THLE possesses the same protective effect in ACR-treated wild-type N2 C. elegans and daf-2 (-) (deficit in DAF-2) mutants. However, the anti-ACR toxicity effect of THLE in daf-16 (-) mutants (deficit in DAF-16 that homologous to FOXO family in human) was weakened. Our results indicated that THLE exhibited protective effects against ACR-induced toxicity both in HepG2 cells and C. elegans, while DAF-16/FOXO gene is involved in THLE' protective effect via regulating the expression levels of downstream antioxidant genes.

Terpenoids as Potential Geroprotectors

Terpenes and terpenoids are the largest groups of plant secondary metabolites. However, unlike polyphenols, they are rarely associated with geroprotective properties. Here we evaluated the conformity of the biological effects of terpenoids with the criteria of geroprotectors, including primary criteria (lifespan-extending effects in model organisms, improvement of aging biomarkers, low toxicity, minimal adverse effects, improvement of the quality of life) and secondary criteria (evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of action, reproducibility of the effects on different models, prevention of age-associated diseases, increasing of stress-resistance). The number of substances that demonstrate the greatest compliance with both primary and secondary criteria of geroprotectors were found among different classes of terpenoids. Thus, terpenoids are an underestimated source of potential geroprotectors that can effectively influence the mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases.

Healthspan Enhancement by Olive Polyphenols in C. elegans Wild Type and Parkinson's Models

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent late-age onset neurodegenerative disorder, affecting 1% of the population after the age of about 60 years old and 4% of those over 80 years old, causing motor impairments and cognitive dysfunction. Increasing evidence indicates that Mediterranean diet (MD) exerts beneficial effects in maintaining health, especially during ageing and by the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders. In this regard, olive oil and its biophenolic constituents like hydroxytyrosol (HT) have received growing attention in the past years. Thus, in the current study we test the health-promoting effects of two hydroxytyrosol preparations, pure HT and Hidrox® (HD), which is hydroxytyrosol in its "natural" environment, in the established invertebrate model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. HD exposure led to much stronger beneficial locomotion effects in wild type worms compared to HT in the same concentration. Consistent to this finding, in OW13 worms, a PD-model characterized by α-synuclein expression in muscles, HD exhibited a significant higher effect on α-synuclein accumulation and swim performance than HT, an effect partly confirmed also in swim assays with the UA44 strain, which features α-synuclein expression in DA-neurons. Interestingly, beneficial effects of HD and HT treatment with similar strength were detected in the lifespan and autofluorescence of wild-type nematodes, in the neuronal health of UA44 worms as well as in the locomotion of rotenone-induced PD-model. Thus, the hypothesis that HD features higher healthspan-promoting abilities than HT was at least partly confirmed. Our study demonstrates that HD polyphenolic extract treatment has the potential to partly prevent or even treat ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases and ageing itself. Future investigations including mammalian models and human clinical trials are needed to uncover the full potential of these olive compounds.

Carnosol inhibits inflammasome activation by directly targeting HSP90 to treat inflammasome-mediated diseases

Aberrant activation of inflammasomes, a group of protein complexes, is pathogenic in a variety of metabolic and inflammation-related diseases. Here, we report that carnosol inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation by directly targeting heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90), which is essential for NLRP3 inflammasome activity, thereby treating inflammasome-mediated diseases. Our data demonstrate that carnosol inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in primary mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), THP-1 cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). Mechanistically, carnosol inhibits inflammasome activation by binding to HSP90 and then inhibiting its ATPase activity. In vivo, our results show that carnosol has remarkable therapeutic effects in mouse models of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases, including endotoxemia and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our data also suggest that intraperitoneal administration of carnosol (120 mg/kg) once daily for two weeks is well tolerated in mice. Thus, our study reveals the inhibitory effect of carnosol on inflammasome activation and demonstrates that carnosol is a safe and effective candidate for the treatment of inflammasome-mediated diseases.

Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii: Chemical Composition, In Vivo Antiinflammatory, Pain Killing and Antipyretic Activities: A Comprehensive Comparison

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, and evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and the analgesic properties of methanol extracts from the leaves of Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii (Lamiaceae). Thirty-five secondary metabolites were characterized in both extracts using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. Phenolic acids, mainly rosmarinic acid and its derivatives, dominated the T. algeriensis extract, while the phenolic diterpene carnosol and the methylated flavonoid salvigenin, prevailed in T. fontanesii extract. Molecular docking study was carried out to estimate the anti-inflammatory potential and the binding affinities of some individual secondary metabolites from both extracts to the main enzymes involved in the inflammation pathway. In vitro enzyme inhibitory assays and in vivo assays were used to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts. Results revealed that both studied Thymus species exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. They showed to be a more potent antioxidant than ascorbic acid and more selective against cyclooxygenase (COX-2) than diclofenac and indomethacin. Relatively, the T. fontanesii extract was more potent as COX-2 inhibitor than T. algeriensis. In conclusion, Thymus algeriensis and Thymus fontanesii may be interesting candidates for the treatment of inflammation and oxidative stress-related disorders.

Mechanism of protective effect of carnosol on pig intestinal epithelial cells

This study aims to study the protective effect and mechanism of carnosol on intestinal oxidative stress. Porcine intestinal epithelial cells (ZYM-SIEC02) were pretreated with carnosol. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was added to stimulate the cells. The cell colonization and viability were detected by Edu staining, MTT, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays. The expressions of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in intracellular and oxidative stress were detected. The expression of related genes and proteins in cells was detected by real-time PCR and western blot. The regulatory mechanisms were identified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assays. The results showed that t-BHP reduced cell proliferation and viability, while cells pretreated with carnosol had resistance to t-BHP, decreased intracellular ROS, MDA and NO levels, and increased SOD content. The mRNA and protein levels of heme oxygenase 1/Nuclear respiratory factor 2 (HO-1/Nrf-2) in ZYM-SIEC02 cells treated with carnosol were significantly increased. Nrf2 was able to bind to cell cycle negative regulatory protein p21 Nrf2 could bind to the promoter regions of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and SOD genes. In conclusion, carnosol has a protective effect on intestinal epithelial cells by up-regulating the expression of Nrf2 and inhibiting p21 protein to promote the expression of CCND1 and SOD.