Work

Extension of life-span using a RNAi model and in vivo antioxidant effect of Opuntia fruit extracts and pure betalains in Caenorhabditis elegans

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Betalains are nitrogenous plant pigments known for their high antioxidant capacity. For the first time, this antioxidant nature has been studied in an in vivo system using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The oxidative stress caused in the fluorescent strain TJ375 (hsp-16.2::GFP) was reversed by the presence of both natural and semi-synthetic betalains, with an ED50 value around 25 μM for betacyanins and up to 10 μM for betaxanthins, with indicaxanthin, the major pigments in prickly pear fruits, as the most effective betalain. The effect of model betalains on the lifespan of the wild-type N2 strain was carefully studied using the automatic platform “Lifespan Machine”. In a search for different approaches to suppress progeny, pop-1 RNAi was used to avoid FUdR use. The presence of betalains in the medium, both as pure compounds and as enriched Opuntia extracts significantly increased the lifespan of C. elegans.

Source: Food Chemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.067

Authors: M. Alejandra Guerrero-Rubio, Samanta Hernández-García, Francisco García-Carmona, Fernando Gandía-Herrero

Institution: Universidad de Murcia

Language: English

Topic: Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms

Subfield: Aging

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,930