Liangyi Gao extends lifespan and exerts an antiaging effect in Caenorhabditis elegans by modulating DAF-16/FOXO

Fuping Xu,Tianchan Yun,Zhimin Yang,Liling Zeng,Ziwen Chen,Chen Sun,Tengteng Wu,Simei Long,Shaoyi Fan,Zhong Pei

doi:10.1007/s10522-019-09820-7

Abstract

Liangyi Gao (LYG), a traditional Chinese medicine, is composed of Ginseng and Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, both of which have been shown to have antiaging properties. In Eastern countries, LYG is used to delay functional declines related to aging and has an obvious antiaging effect in clinical practice. However, little data from evidence-based medicine is available regarding whether LYG is beneficial overall, particularly with respect to lifespan, and how LYG functions. To address these issues, Caenorhabditis elegans, a useful organism for such studies, was employed to explore the antiaging effect and mechanism of LYG in this study. The results showed that LYG could obviously extend lifespan and slow aging-related declines in N2 wild-type C. elegans. To further characterize these antiaging effects and stress resistance, reproductive tests and other aging-related tests were performed. We found that LYG enhanced resistance against oxidative and thermal stress, reproduction, pharynx pumping, motility and growth in N2 wild-type C. elegans. In addition, we analyzed the mechanism for these effects by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the expression levels of aging-related genes. We found that LYG enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and upregulated the genes daf-16, sod-3 and sir-2.1, which mediated stress resistance and longevity. In conclusion, LYG had robust and reproducible life-prolonging and antiaging benefits in C. elegans via DAF-16/FOXO regulation.

Highlights

Aging is a complex process characterized by the progressive failure of maintenance and repair pathways
We found that Liangyi Gao (LYG) enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and upregulated the genes daf-16, sod-3 and sir-2.1, which mediated stress resistance and longevity
Liangyi Gao (LYG) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula described in Jing Yue’s Complete Work, which is mainly composed of 2 ingredients, Panax Ginseng and Radix Rehmanniae Preparata

Summary

Introduction

Aging is a complex process characterized by the progressive failure of maintenance and repair pathways. Ginseng combined with Rehmannia glutinosa is a classic Chinese herbal prescription that has invigorates Qi and nourishes blood; this prescription is commonly used to treat weakness or chronic debilitating diseases. Both Ginseng and Rehmannia glutinosa have been demonstrated to have antiaging effects in previous studies (Yang et al 2017; Bai et al 2018). Since little data from evidencebased medicine is available about whether LYG is beneficial overall, we performed this study to confirm its benefits and to explore the mechanism of its antiaging effects using C. elegans, which has become a widely accepted model for aging research because of its short lifespan, morphology, ease of culture, and ease of genetic manipulation (Guarente and Kenyon 2000; Wang et al 2014). Since C. elegans shares nearly two-thirds of its genes with humans, it is used as a well-characterized experimental system for aging and aging-associated disease research (Sluder and Baumeister 2004)

Methods

Results

Conclusion