Ilex paraguariensis Extract Increases Lifespan and Protects Against the Toxic Effects Caused by Paraquat in Caenorhabditis elegans

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Maria E. Lima²  Ana C. Colpo²  Willian G. Salgueiro¹  Guilherme E. Sardinha¹  Daiana S. Ávila² 

[1] Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472-Km 592-Caixa Postal 118-CEP: 97500-970-Uruguaiana-RS, Brazil; E-Mails:;Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, BR 472-Km 592-Caixa Postal 118-CEP: 97500-970-Uruguaiana-RS, Brazil; E-Mails:

关键词: paraquat;    oxidative stress;    Ilex paraguariensis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph111010091

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Recent studies have shown that phenolic compounds present in yerba mate have antioxidant defense properties. To verify whether Ilex paraguariensis extracts are capable of increasing the lifespan of an organism, we have used the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Notably, this is the first study that analyzes the effects of the extracts of yerba mate obtained from an extraction method that mimics the manner that the plant is consumed by the population by using a live organism. Yerba mate was purchased from commercial markets from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Ilex paraguariensis extracts significantly increased the life span of C. elegans. Moreover, the extracts reduced the ROS levels per se, and protected from the reduced survival and reproduction rate induced by paraquat exposure. Considering molecular aspects, we observed that the worms pretreated with the extracts depicted higher translocation of the transcription factor DAF-16::GFP to the nucleus. However, there was no increase in the levels of the DAF-16 target genes, SOD-3 and catalase. Our results suggest that the increase of lifespan caused by the different extracts is associated to the antioxidant potential of yerba mate, however this effect is not completely mediated by daf-16.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.