title: Cordyceps sinensis oral liquid prolongs the lifespan of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, by inhibiting oxidative stress.
abstract: This study investigated the effect of Cordyceps sinensis oral liquid (CSOL) on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Following the lifelong treatment of fruit flies with CSOL, lifespan was examined. The activity of copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), manganese-containing superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT), as well as the lipofuscin (LF) content were determined. The mRNA levels of SOD1, SOD2 and CAT were quantified by qPCR. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and paraquat were used to mimic the effects of damage caused by acute oxidative stress. D-galactose was used to mimic chronic pathological aging. CSOL significantly prolonged the lifespan of the fruit flies under physiological conditions. The activity of SOD1 and CAT was upregulated, and LF accumulation was inhibited by CSOL. CSOL had no effect on the transcriptional levels (mRNA) of these enzymes. The survival time of the fruit flies which were negatively affected by exposure to H2O2 or paraquat was significantly prolonged by CSOL. In fruit flies pathologically aged by epxosure to D-galactose, CSOL also significantly prolonged their lifespan, upregulated the activity of SOD1 and CAT, and inhibited LF accumulation. The findings of our study indicate that CSOL prolongs the lifespan of fruit flies through an anti-oxidative stress pathway involving the upregulation of SOD1 and CAT activity and the inhibition of LF accumulation. CSOL may thus be explored as a novel agent for slowing the human aging process.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yingxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Minghua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiachun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zesheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010088:Oxidoreductases