Zhuyeqing liquor promotes longevity through enhancing stress resistance via regulation of SKN-1 and HSF-1 transcription factors in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Zhuyeqing liquor (ZYQL) is well-known traditional functional liquor in China that contains twelve crude drugs. Studies have shown that ZYQL has many beneficial effects, but its anti-aging effect has not been reported. Here, we found that ZYQL had excellent antioxidant activity in vitro. In C. elegans, ZYQL could significantly extend the lifespan, and decreased aging related phenotype including accumulation of lipofuscin and the decrease of food intake and motility. Further, ZYQL significantly reduced ROS level and enhanced the antioxidant defense in C. elegans. ZYQL increased transcriptional activity of transcription factors HSF-1 and SKN-1, and ZYQL-mediated longevity was dependent on these factors. Taken together, the data suggested that ZYQL enhanced the transcriptional activity of transcription factors HSF-1 and SKN-1, which in turn increased oxidative/heat stress resistance to exert its anti-aging effect in C. elegans. Our results provide new insights into the beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of ZYQL, which might be useful for further developing ZYQL into health or anti-aging beverages.