Fuzhuan Tea protects Caenorhabditis elegans from glucose and advanced glycation end products via distinct pathways

Abstract

Abstract Fuzhuan Tea (FZT) protects against obesity and obesity-related disorders. However, little is known about its effects on high-sugar toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we find that FZT limits the life-shortening effects of a high-sugar (glucose, sucrose, galactose, and fructose) diet, but does not extend lifespan on a normal diet or protect against oxidative stress. FZT also can prolong healthspan and alleviate the detrimental effects of a glucose-rich diet. Furthermore, we report that effects of FZT on glucose toxicity and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) damage can be dissociated. Notably, FZT is dependent on DAF-16/FOXO and the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway to promote lifespan and decrease fat content on a glucose-rich diet; concomitantly, FZT reduces AGEs levels by regulating SKN-1/Nrf and p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, independent of DAF-16/FOXO and IIS pathway. Our findings indicate that FZT protects against high glucose toxicity by a mechanism other than protection against AGEs damage.