Anti-aging effect of polysaccharide from Bletilla striata on nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

• Published in: Pharmacognosy Magazine Vol. 11; no. 43; pp. 449 - 454
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yusi, Lv, Ting, Li, Min, Xue, Ting, Liu, Hui, Zhang, Weiming, Ding, Xiaoyu, Zhuang, Ziheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2015; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Aging; Antioxidants (Nutrients); Caenorhabditis elegans; Chinese medicine; E coli; Genes; Insulin; Kinases; Medicinal plants; Nematodes; Original; Oxidative stress; Pharmacological research; Physiological aspects; Polymerase chain reaction; Polysaccharides; Reproductive system; Statistical analysis; Studies; Worms; China; Caenorhabditis elegans; stress resistance; Anti-aging; Bletilla striata polysaccharide; lifespan
• ISSN: 0973-1296; 0976-4062
• DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.160447

Polysaccharide isolated from Bletilla striata, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (Bletilla striata polysaccharide [BSP]) has been found to play important roles in endothelial cells proliferation, inducible nitric oxide stimulation, wound healing acceleration and other processes. Recent studies found that B. striata has anti-oxidative properties, however, potential anti-aging effects of BSP in whole organisms has not been characterized. To investigate whether BSP has anti-aging effects on Caenorhabditis elegans. After treatment with BSP, the lifespan, locomotion ability, and stress resistance of C. elegans was determined. To provide insight into the underlying mechanism for the anti-aging effect of BSP, we measured its effect on bacterial growth, brood size of C. elegans, and the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway. After BSP treatment, the lifespan of C. elegans was extended, and its locomotion ability and stress resistance were increased. BSP was found to have no effect on bacterial growth or on reproduction of C. elegans, However, mRNA levels of age-1 and hcf-1 were reduced after BSP treatment. Additionally, we observed that BSP did not extend the lifespan of daf-16 mutant animals. BSP produces an anti-aging effect on C. elegans through the insulin/IGF signaling pathway and holds promise for future development as a functional food.