Using Drosophila to study the anti-aging effect of Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. and the mechanisms of its action

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Aging is a process for all organisms and appears degeneration in their cellular and biological functions. Therefore, to study the mechanisms of aging, the ways to extend lifespan, and decline in the incidences of aged-related diseases becomes important issues for scientists. According to the literature of Chinese medicine, Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. is used to improve the functions of kidney, immune system and sexual capability. The purpose of this study is to use Drosophila as an animal model to study the anti-aging effect of C. songaricum Rupr. and explore its possible mechanisms. In survival analysis, female flies treated with C. songaricum Rupr. were presented the increase in the average lifespan to 11-17% compared with the control group, but there was no significant difference in male flies. In order to study the mechanisms of anti-aging effect, we analyzed the resistance in the response to oxidative stress for flies feeding with C. songaricum Rupr. In the twenty-day-old experimental flies feeding with drug, the average lifespan was increased under oxidative stress analysis, including paraquat, H2O2 and starvation treatment to 9-13%, 11-12% and 6-12%, respectively. We also determined the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO). Our results revealed that the activity of SOD and CAT was increased as well as the level of LPO was decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group. In quantitative PCR (qPCR), there were no expression differences in SOD1, SOD2, CAT, Hsp27, IMP-L2, l(2)efl, dilp2, dilp3 and dilp5 genes. Further, we also analyzed the mating ability after drug treatment, but there was no statistical difference between control and experimental groups. Our results demonstrated that C. songaricum Rupr. could extend lifespan and increase the resistance to oxidative stress, and this may provide a scientific evidence for the anti-aging effect of C. songaricum Rupr.