Abstract
We discovered six plant extracts that increase yeast chronological lifespan to a significantly greater extent than any of the presently known longevity-extending chemical compounds. One of these extracts is the most potent longevity-extending pharmacological intervention yet described. We show that each of the six plant extracts is a geroprotector which delays the onset and decreases the rate of yeast chronological aging by eliciting a hormetic stress response. We also show that each of these extracts has different effects on cellular processes that define longevity in organisms across phyla. These effects include the following: 1) increased mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential; 2) augmented or reduced concentrations of reactive oxygen species; 3) decreased oxidative damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids, and mitochondrial and nuclear genomes; 4) enhanced cell resistance to oxidative and thermal stresses; and 5) accelerated degradation of neutral lipids deposited in lipid droplets. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms through which chemicals extracted from certain plants can slow biological aging.
Highlights
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a unicellular eukaryote amenable to comprehensive molecular analyses [1–3]
This assay was similar to the one described previously [34], but the wildtype strain BY4742 was cultured in the synthetic minimal YNB medium initially containing 2% glucose
Many plant extracts (PEs) from the library shortened the mean and/ or maximum chronological lifespan (CLS) of yeast under non-caloric restriction (non-CR) conditions at final concentrations ranging from 0.08% to 1.0%; among these PEs were PE1–PE3, PE7, PE10, PE11, PE14, PE15, PE17–PE20, PE24, PE25, PE27, PE29–PE35 and PE37 (Figure S1–Figure S5). 6 of the 35 PEs from the library significantly increased both the mean and maximum CLS of yeast under non-CR conditions if added at final concentrations ranging from 0.04% to 1.0% (Figure S1–Figure S3)
Summary
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a unicellular eukaryote amenable to comprehensive molecular analyses [1–3]. S. cerevisiae has relatively short and easy measurable replicative and chronological lifespans [6–13] Due to these beneficial properties as a model organism for studying mechanisms of aging and longevity, S. cerevisiae has been used for the discovery of genes that slow cellular aging and increase healthy lifespan in S. cerevisiae and other yeasts and in multicellular eukaryotes [6, 7, 9, 11, 14–16]. S. cerevisiae has been a model organism employed for uncovering several low molecular weight molecules that slow aging and extend healthy lifespan in various multicellular eukaryotes [10, 21–27] All these studies employing S. cerevisiae as a model organism have provided evidence that the main features of biological aging have been conserved in the course of evolution [6, 9, 11, 18, 21, 28–31]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
