title: Bacopa monnieri promotes longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans under stress conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, commonly known as Brahmi is an important medicinal plant traditionally used as memory enhancer and antiepileptic agent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated antioxidant and stress resistance potentials of B. monnieri aqueous extract (BMW) using Caenorhabditis elegans animal model system.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antioxidant activity of the BMW was measured using in vitro (DPPH, reducing power and total polyphenol content) and in vivo (DCF-DA assay) assays. The antistress potential of BMW (0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 mg/ml) was evaluated through thermal stress (37°C) and oxidative stress (10 mM paraquat) using C. elegans. Quantification of the HSP-16.2 level was done using CL2070 transgenic worms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Present study reveals that BMW possess in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities. BMW significantly enhanced stress tolerance and increased the mean lifespan of worms during thermal and oxidative stress, although it did not extend lifespan at 20°C and attenuated age dependent decline in physiological behaviors. Moreover, it was shown that BMW was able to up-regulate expression of stress associated gene hsp-16.2, which significantly (P < 0.001) extends the mean lifespan of worms under stress conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study strongly suggests that BMW acts as an antistressor and potent reactive oxygen species scavenger which enhances the survival of the worms in different stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Suresh C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Phulara
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Virendra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sudeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Technology and Nematology, CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandey
keywords: Antioxidant; Bacopa monnieri; Caenorhabditis elegans; antistress; reactive oxygen species
references.citation: Indian J Exp Biol. 2013 Jul;51(7):515-21
references.pmid: 23898550
references.citation: J Alzheimers Dis. 2003 Aug;5(4):287-300
references.pmid: 14624024
references.citation: Arch Biochem Biophys. 1993 May;302(2):348-55
references.pmid: 8387741
references.citation: Free Radic Biol Med. 2009 Feb 1;46(3):414-21
references.pmid: 19061950
references.citation: Aging Cell. 2006 Feb;5(1):59-68
references.pmid: 16441844
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Aug 1;92(16):7540-4
references.pmid: 7638227
references.citation: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000;899:136-47
references.pmid: 10863535
references.citation: Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Mar 15;30(6):1354-63
references.pmid: 11884633
references.citation: Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Nov;85(3):620-8
references.pmid: 17156833
references.citation: Antioxid Redox Signal. 2010 Dec 15;13(12):1911-53
references.pmid: 20568954
references.citation: PLoS One. 2010 Feb 22;5(2):e9339
references.pmid: 20179756
references.citation: Pharmacol Res. 2007 Feb;55(2):139-47
references.pmid: 17207635
references.citation: Free Radic Biol Med. 2012 Nov 15;53(10):1848-56
references.pmid: 23000058
references.citation: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:519084
references.pmid: 22216055
references.citation: Mech Ageing Dev. 2011 Oct;132(10):480-7
references.pmid: 21855561
references.citation: Afr Health Sci. 2003 Aug;3(2):77-82
references.pmid: 12913798
references.citation: Nature. 2000 Nov 9;408(6809):255-62
references.pmid: 11089983
references.citation: Nature. 1998 Aug 13;394(6694):694-7
references.pmid: 9716135
references.citation: Phytomedicine. 1997 Dec;4(4):319-23
references.pmid: 23195581