Daria V. Mikhailova

Cereal grains contain bioactive compounds that may influence longevity. We investigated the effects of 20 cereal varieties on longevity and healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster, including triticale, bread wheat, durum wheats, ancient wheats, and regional varieties. Cereal-based diets exhibited sex-specific differences relative to cereal-free controls: females showed 3–13% longer lifespans while males exhibited reduced lifespans by up to 19%. In females, clear patterns were observed: pronounced lifespan differences (3–11% longer than controls) were concurrent with higher thermotolerance, while moderate lifespan differences (2–6% longer than controls) were associated with greater oxidative stress resistance and locomotor activity, but lower starvation resistance than controls. Males demonstrated higher stress resistance than controls despite shortened lifespan. Gene expression analysis revealed that female-specific lifespan differences were concurrent with elevated expression of immune-related genes (AttA, CecA1, DptA). These results suggest cereal-mediated longevity differences operate through sex-specific physiological pathways involving trade-offs between stress resistance and metabolic regulation.

Honeysuckle Lonicera pallasii (Lonicera caerulea L.) is an excellent source of anthocyanins which have a number of health-promoting properties mainly associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is one of the most common anthocyanins naturally found in honeysuckle. The goal of the present study was to investigate antioxidant and anti-aging properties of Lonicera pallasii (Lonicera caerulea L.) extract (LE) and C3G using red blood cells (RBC) and Drosophila melanogaster models. LE and C3G treatment at a concentration of 100 μM induced enhancement of median and maximum lifespan up to 8%. LE and C3G supplementation at a concentration of 100 μM increased stress resistance up to 10%. The locomotor activity decreased during LE and C3G treatment in 4 and 6 weeks up to 52% in females. The integrity of the intestinal barrier was increased by 4% after LE treatment. These effects were accompanied by increased expression of Hif1 (pro-longevity gene) in response to C3G treatment and decreased expression of Keap1 (anti-longevity gene) after C3G and LE supplementation. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Sirt6 completely abolished the positive effect obtained of LE and C3G supplementation in males which indicates that lifespan-extending effect is associated with Sirt6 activation. The experiments on the various in-vitro models (including radical scavenging activity and oxidative hemolysis of RBC demonstrated antioxidant and membrane-protective activities of LE and C3G. The present study indicates that Lonicera extract can prolong the lifespan and improve the healthspan of Drosophila model through biological and antioxidant activities.

Aging and its consequences is one of the main problems of humanity. Phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins have great potential as geroprotectors. Plants including Aronia used as dietary supplements are an excellent source of these compounds. We have studied the effects of the ethanol extract from Aronia fruits on Drosophila melanogaster lifespan, locomotor activity, stress resistance (oxidative stress, heat shock and starvation). And also, in order to reveal the influence of Aronia extract applied to different life cycles of Drosophila melanogaster , we selected different dietary schemes for imago: throughout life, during the first two weeks (1 – 2) and during average age (4 – 6 weeks). It was revealed that the ethanol extract of chokeberry increases the median life expectancy in males and females by 5% when Drosophila melanogaster is added to the diet for 4 – 6 weeks of life. This suggests that intervention even in old age is sufficient to increase lifespan. In addition, no harmful effects of ABE on locomotor activity were found as an indicator of fly health. We showed that Aronia extract increased stress resistance to hyperthermia and oxidative stress. At the same time, Aronia extract did not significantly affect the resistance of flies to starvation. ABE supplementation has increased expression of heat shock proteins ( Hsp27, Hsp68, Hsp83 ), oxidative stress resistance genes ( Keap1, NRF, Sod1 ), some circadian clock genes ( Clk, per ) and gene of longevity Sirt1.