Abstract
Exploring innovative ways to ensure healthy aging of populations is a pre-requisite to contain rising healthcare costs. Scientific research into the principles and practices of traditional medicines can provide new insights and simple solutions to lead a healthy life. Rasayana is a dedicated branch of Ayurveda (an Indian medicine) that deals with methods to increase vitality and delay aging through the use of diet, herbal supplements, and other lifestyle practices. The life-span and health-span enhancing actions of the fruits of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a well-known Rasayana, were tested on Drosophila melanogaster (fruitfly) model. Supplementation of standard corn meal with 10% (v/v) pomegranate juice (PJ) extended the life-span of male and female flies by 18 and 8%, respectively. When male and female flies were mixed and reared together, there was 19% increase in the longevity of PJ fed flies, as assessed by MSD, the median survival day (24.8). MSD for control and resveratrol (RV) groups was at 20.8 and 23.1 days, respectively. A two-fold enhancement in fecundity, improved resistance to oxidative stress (H2O2 and paraquat induced) and to Candida albicans infection were observed in PJ fed flies. Further, the flies in the PJ fed group were physically active over an extended period of time, as assessed by the climbing assay. PJ thus outperformed both control and RV groups in the life-span and health-span parameters tested. This study provides the scope to explore the potential of PJ as a nutraceutical to improve health span and lifespan in human beings.
Highlights
IntroductionGlobal statistics predict 223% increase in the number of elderly (aged >60 years) accounting for about 1.2 billion between 1970 and 2025 [1]
Global statistics predict 223% increase in the number of elderly accounting for about 1.2 billion between 1970 and 2025 [1]
pomegranate juice (PJ) SUPPLEMENTATION CONTROLS THE “TRADE-OFF” BETWEEN FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY As 10% PJ substitution to the media significantly enhanced lifespan for both male and female flies separately, we investigated the effect of this concentration in the mixed group of male and female
Summary
Global statistics predict 223% increase in the number of elderly (aged >60 years) accounting for about 1.2 billion between 1970 and 2025 [1]. Ways to ensure healthy aging while increasing lifespan are heatedly debated and researched in public health circles [2]. This is because long-term institutional care of the elderly for chronic age-related conditions such as arthritis and dementia has led to steep increases in healthcare costs, yet reduced the quality of life for the patients [3, 4]. Rasayana is a special branch of Ayurveda, which deals with methods of rejuvenation such as dietary recipes and regimen, herbal and mineral supplements, and health-promoting lifestyle that are said to enhance quality of life and delay aging [7]. Several studies have indicated Rasayanas to be anti-oxidants and immunomodulators [10]
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