Abstract
Ilex paraguariensis is a well-known plant that is widely consumed in South America, primarily as a drink called mate. Mate is described to have stimulant and medicinal properties. Considering the potential anti-lipid effects of I. paraguariensis infusion, we used an extract of this plant as a possible modulator of fat storage to control lipid metabolism in worms. Herein, the I. paraguariensis-dependent modulation of fat metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans was investigated. C. elegans were treated with I. paraguariensis aqueous extract (1 mg/ml) from L1 larvae stage until adulthood, to simulate the primary form of consumption. Expression of adipocyte triglyceride lipase 1 (ATGL-1) and heat shock protein 16.2, lipid accumulation through C1-BODIPY-C12 (BODIPY) lipid staining, behavioral parameters, body length, total body energy expenditure and overall survival were analyzed. Total body energy expenditure was determined by the oxygen consumption rate in N2, nuclear hormone receptor knockout, nhr-49(nr2041), and adenosine receptor knockout, ador-1(ox489) strains. Ilex paraguariensis extract increased ATGL-1 expression 20.06% and decreased intestinal BODIPY fat staining 63.36%, compared with the respective control group, without affecting bacterial growth and energetic balance, while nhr-49(nr2041) and ador-1(ox489) strains blocked the worm fat loss. In addition, I. paraguariensis increased the oxygen consumption in N2 worms, but not in mutant strains, increased N2 worm survival following juglone exposure, and did not alter hsp-16.2 expression. We demonstrate for the first time that I. paraguariensis can decrease fat storage and increase body energy expenditure in worms. These effects depend on the purinergic system (ADOR-1) and NHR-49 pathways. Ilex paraguariensis upregulated the expression of ATGL-1 to modulate fat metabolism. Furthermore, our data corroborates with other studies that demonstrate that C. elegans is a useful tool for studies of fat metabolism and energy consumption.
Highlights
A number of plants are used as complementary or alternative medicines in regular diets worldwide [1]
We observed that 1 mg/mL of I. paraguariensis extract increased the expression of adipocyte triglyceride lipase 1 (ATGL-1)::GFP (20.06%) in the VS20 strain (Fig 1, p < 0.05)
The main findings of this study indicate that treatment with 1 mg/mL of I. paraguariensis extract increased worm survival following oxidative stress, reduced fat storage, increased atgl-1 expression and oxygen consumption in N2 wild-type
Summary
A number of plants are used as complementary or alternative medicines in regular diets worldwide [1]. Var. paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae), the yerba mate, is widely used in southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay [2] as a drink called chimarrão, tererê, or mate. Its consumption has been popular for centuries because/ of its stimulant and medicinal properties [3]. The effects of the consumption of I. paraguariensis include central nervous system stimulation [4], increased antioxidant defense [5], antioxidant properties in vitro [6], and thermogenic properties [7]
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