title: Carqueja (Baccharis trimera) Protects against Oxidative Stress and β-Amyloid-Induced Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Carqueja (Baccharis trimera) is a native plant found throughout South America. Several studies have shown that Carqueja has antioxidant activity in vitro, as well as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, analgesic, antihepatotoxic, and antimutagenic properties. However, studies regarding its antioxidant potential in vivo are limited. In this study, we used Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to examine the antioxidant effects of a Carqueja hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) on stress resistance and lifespan and to investigate whether CHE has a protective effect in a C. elegans model for Alzheimer's disease. Here, we show for the first time, using in vivo assays, that CHE treatment improved oxidative stress resistance by increasing survival rate and by reducing ROS levels under oxidative stress conditions independently of the stress-related signaling pathways (p38, JNK, and ERK) and transcription factors (SKN-1/Nrf and DAF-16/Foxo) tested here. CHE treatment also increased the defenses against β-amyloid toxicity in C. elegans, in part by increasing proteasome activity and the expression of two heat shock protein genes. Our findings suggest a potential neuroprotective use for Carqueja, supporting the idea that dietary antioxidants are a promising approach to boost the defensive systems against stress and neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Franciny Aparecida
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa de Freitas
authors.initials: Lde F
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Ferreira
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Boasquivis
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Thadeu Borges Raposo
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joyce Ferreira da Costa
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wagney Mendes
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil ; Departamento de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Eustáquio
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil ; Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil ; Departamento de Biodiversidade, Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil ; Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Riva de Paula
authors.initials: Rde P
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D031175:Baccharis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D020011:Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases