Abstract
Background
Momordica saponin extract (MSE) was found to not only improve longevity and neuroprotection but also alleviate fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans in our previous study. However, the lipid-lowering activity of MSE alone could not fully explain its ability to improve health, so the antistress effects of MSE were further studied.
Methods
Using C. elegans as an in vivo animal, the lifespan of MSE-treated C. elegans under various stressors (H2O2, paraquat and heat) and normal conditions was studied. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of MSE were discussed. To study the underlying mechanisms, the expression of stress resistance genes and the resistance of related mutants to H2O2 stress were tested.
Results
MSE significantly improved the lifespan of C. elegans under stress and normal conditions. Meanwhile, the mobility of C. elegans was also improved. Moreover, the activities of SOD and CAT and the ratio of GSH/GSSG were elevated. Consistently, the levels of ROS and lipid oxidation (the NEFA and MDA content) were reduced. Furthermore, MSE treatment upregulated the expression of the sod-3, sod-5, clt-1, clt-2, hsp-16.1 and hsp-16.2 genes. All biomarkers indicated that the antistress and anti-aging activities of MSE were due to its strong antioxidant activities. Finally, MSE induced nuclear DAF-16::GFP localization. Studies with mutants revealed that skn-1 and hsf-1 were involved in the activity of MSE, which might upregulate the expression of downstream stress-responsive genes.
Conclusions
Therefore, in addition to its lipid-lowering property, the ability of MSE to improve healthspan was also attributed to the stress resistance effect. Together, MSE might serve as a lead nutraceutical in geriatric research.
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Availability of data and materials
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- Aβ :
-
Amyloid-β
- CAT:
-
Catalase
- E. coli OP50:
-
Escherichia coli strain OP50
- GFP:
-
Green fluorescent protein
- GSH:
-
Reduced glutathione
- GSH-Px:
-
Glutathione peroxidase
- GSSG:
-
Oxidized glutathione
- IIS:
-
Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling
- HSF:
-
Heat shock transcription factor
- HSP:
-
Heat shock protein
- MDA:
-
Malondialdehyde
- mL:
-
Milliliter
- mol:
-
Molar
- MSE:
-
Momordica saponins extract
- NEFA:
-
Non-esterified fatty acids
- NGM:
-
Nematode growth medium
- polyQ:
-
Polyglutamine
- qRT-PCR:
-
Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- μL:
-
Microliter
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Acknowledgements
Strain N2, GR1307, CF1553 and TK22 were provided by the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center at University of Minnesota. Strain TJ356, EU1 and PS3551 were provided by Prof. Qinghua Zhou (Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangdong Province, China).
Funding
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31700501); The Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China (2017A020208042); The National Key R&D Program (2016YFD0600806).
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Lin, C., Chen, Y., Lin, Y. et al. Antistress and anti-aging activities of Caenorhabditis elegans were enhanced by Momordica saponin extract. Eur J Nutr 60, 1819–1832 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02338-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-020-02338-6