Blueberry extract prolongs lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster.

Authors: Peng C; Zuo Y; Kwan KM; Liang Y; Ma KY; Chan HY; Huang Y; Yu H; Chen ZY

Abstract: Blueberry possesses greater antioxidant capacity than most other fruits and vegetables. The present study investigated the lifespan-prolonging activity of blueberry extracts in fruit flies and explored its underlying mechanism. Results revealed that blueberry extracts at 5mg/ml in diet could significantly extend the mean lifespan of fruit flies by 10%, accompanied by up-regulating gene expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Rpn11 and down-regulating Methuselah (MTH) gene. Intensive H(2)O(2) and Paraquat challenge tests showed that lifespan was only extended in Oregon-R wild type flies but not in SOD(n108) or Cat(n1) mutant strains. Chronic Paraquat exposure shortened the maximum survival time from 73 to 35days and decreased the climbing ability by 60% while blueberry extracts at 5mg/ml in diet could significantly increase the survival rate and partially restore the climbing ability with up-regulating SOD, CAT, and Rpn11. Furthermore, gustatory assay demonstrated that those changes were not due to the variation of food intake between the control and the experimental diet containing 5mg/ml blueberry extracts. It was therefore concluded that the lifespan-prolonging activity of blueberry extracts was at least partially associated with its interactions with MTH, Rpn11, and endogenous antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT.

Keywords: Animals; Blotting, Western; Blueberry Plant/*metabolism; Catalase/genetics/*metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Down-Regulation; Drosophila Proteins/genetics/*metabolism; *Drosophila melanogaster/genetics; Endopeptidases/genetics/*metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Herbicides/toxicity; Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity; *Longevity/drug effects; Oxidants/toxicity; Paraquat/toxicity; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics/metabolism; Superoxide Dismutase/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism; Up-Regulation
Journal: Experimental gerontology
Volume: 47
Issue: 2
Pages: 170-8
Date: Dec. 27, 2011
PMID: 22197903
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Citation:

Peng C, Zuo Y, Kwan KM, Liang Y, Ma KY, Chan HY, Huang Y, Yu H, Chen ZY (2012) Blueberry extract prolongs lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental gerontology 47: 170-8.


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