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Curcumin enhances parental reproductive lifespan and progeny viability in Drosophila melanogaster

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Abstract

Organismal lifespan is a complex trait that is governed by both its genetic makeup as well as the environmental conditions. The improved socioeconomic condition of humans has led to many lifestyle changes that in turn have altered the demography that includes postponement of procreation. Late age progeny is shown to suffer from many congenital diseases. Hence, there is a need to identify and evaluate natural molecules that could enhance reproductive health span. We have used the well-established model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, and ascertained the consequence of diet supplementation with curcumin. Flies reared on curcumin-supplemented diet had significantly higher lifespan. The progeny of flies reared on curcumin had a higher viability. The activity of a key mitochondrial enzyme—aconitase was significantly higher in flies reared on curcumin-supplemented diet. The results suggest that curcumin can not only correct a key step in the citric acid cycle and help in the release of additional energy but also permanently correct developmental and morphogenetic processes.

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Abbreviations

DR:

Diet restriction

SM:

Standard banana-jaggery medium

SLC:

Standard laboratory conditions

RT:

Room temperature

PC:

Parental fly cage

FC:

Progeny fly cage

FA :

Progeny raised on SM

FB :

Progeny raised on SM supplemented with 5 μM curcumin

FC :

Progeny raised on SM supplemented with 10 μM curcumin

FD :

Progeny raised on SM supplemented with 25 μM curcumin

FE :

Progeny raised on SM supplemented with 50 μM curcumin

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Acknowledgments

We thank two anonymous referees for their helpful comments on the earlier versions of the manuscript and suggesting additional experiments on pAkt/Akt ratio and fat metabolism related genes. We also thank Dr. Rajesh Rajaiah, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, USA, for providing us the pAKT antibody; Dr. Rajagopal Raman, Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi; Dr. K. Natarajan, Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi for providing the chemicals, buffers, and instruments required in Akt/pAkt, AKHR, and CG9510 Western blot and PCR experiments; and Ms. Nalini Mishra and numerous research trainees for their assistance in the research. MS thanks the University of Delhi and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, for financial assistance. SP thanks the University Grants Commission, Government of India, for DSKPDF fellowship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

K.T.C., S.P., and M.S. designed the research; K.T.C and S.P. performed the research; and K.T.C., S.P., and M.S. analyzed the data and wrote the paper.

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  1. K. T. Chandrashekara

    Present address: Institution of Excellence, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570006, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolutionary Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India

    K. T. Chandrashekara & M. N. Shakarad

  2. Gut Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India

    Sonam Popli

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Correspondence to M. N. Shakarad.

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Chandrashekara, K.T., Popli, S. & Shakarad, M.N. Curcumin enhances parental reproductive lifespan and progeny viability in Drosophila melanogaster . AGE 36, 9702 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-014-9702-8

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