Increased Stress Resistance and Lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans Wildtype and Knockout Mutants-Implications for Depression Treatment by Medicinal Herbs.

Thomas Efferth,Janine Naß,Christopher J Kampf

doi:10.3390/molecules26071827

Thomas Efferth, Janine Naß + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26071827

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Abstract

Depression and anxiety disorders are widespread diseases, and they belong to the leading causes of disability and greatest burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. It is expected that the numbers will dramatically rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Established medications are not sufficient to adequately treat depression and are not available for everyone. Plants from traditional medicine may be promising alternatives to treat depressive symptoms. The model organism Chaenorhabditis elegans was used to assess the stress reducing effects of methanol/dichlormethane extracts from plants used in traditional medicine. After initial screening for antioxidant activity, nine extracts were selected for in vivo testing in oxidative stress, heat stress, and osmotic stress assays. Additionally, anti-aging properties were evaluated in lifespan assay. The extracts from Acanthopanax senticosus, Campsis grandiflora, Centella asiatica, Corydalis yanhusuo, Dan Zhi, Houttuynia cordata, Psoralea corylifolia, Valeriana officinalis, and Withania somnifera showed antioxidant activity of more than 15 Trolox equivalents per mg extract. The extracts significantly lowered ROS in mutants, increased resistance to heat stress and osmotic stress, and the extended lifespan of the nematodes. The plant extracts tested showed promising results in increasing stress resistance in the nematode model. Further analyses are needed, in order to unravel underlying mechanisms and transfer results to humans.

Highlights

Depression and anxiety disorders are widespread diseases
The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay is a useful and widely used test to determine the antioxidant properties of substances [50]
Because antioxidant properties play an important role in the treatment of depression [51,52], this test was used as a first screening test (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Depression and anxiety disorders are widespread diseases. They affect mood, sleep, joy of life, and the will to live. Over 264 million people suffered from depression in 2017, according to numbers from the World Health Organization [1]. Depression is a leading cause of disability and it is one of the greatest burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the direct problems for the health systems and the people affected, there is a growing number of problems that are the consequence of COVID-19 measures. Fear of losing one’s job, threats to one’s life, as well as fewer social contacts are factors that contribute to the dramatic increase in the number of depressions and anxiety disorders during pandemic [2,3]

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