Plant and fungal products that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Authors:

Jan Martel1,2, Cheng-Yeu Wu1-3, Hsin-Hsin Peng1,2,4, Yun-Fei Ko2,5,6, Hung-Chi Yang7, John D. Young5 and David M. Ojcius1,2,8

doi: 10.15698/mic2020.10.731
Volume 7, pp. 255 to 269, published 09/07/2020.

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Affiliations:

1 Center for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

2 Chang Gung Immunology Consortium, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

3 Research Center of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

4 Laboratory Animal Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

5 Chang Gung Biotechnology Corporation, Taipei, Taiwan.

6 Biochemical Engineering Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

7 Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

8 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Keywords: 

autophagy, caloric restriction mimetics, dietary supplements, hormesis, phytochemicals

Corresponding Author(s):

David M. Ojcius, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, 155 Fifth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA; Phone: 1-415-780-2095; dojcius@pacific.edu

Conflict of interest statement:

Y-F.K. is president of Chang Gung Biotechnology. J.D.Y. is Chairman of the Board of Chang Gung Biotechnology. The authors have filed patents related to the prepara-tion and use of dietary supplements and probiotics.

Please cite this article as:

Jan Martel, Cheng-Yeu Wu, Hsin-Hsin Peng, Yun-Fei Ko, Hung-Chi Yang, John D. Young and David M. Ojcius (2020). Plant and fungal products that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis ele-gans. Microbial Cell 7(10): 255-269. doi: 10.15698/mic2020.10.731

© 2020 Martel et al. This is an open-access article released under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows the unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduc-tion in any medium, provided the original author and source are acknowledged.

Abstract:

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model to study aging due to its short lifespan, ease of manipulation, and available genetic tools. Several molecules and extracts derived from plants and fungi extend the lifespan of C. elegans by modulating aging-related pathways that are conserved in more complex organisms. Modulation of aging pathways leads to activation of autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis and expression of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes in a manner similar to caloric restriction. Low and moderate concentrations of plant and fungal molecules usually extend lifespan, while high concentrations are detrimental, consistent with a lifespan-modulating mechanism involving hormesis. We review here molecules and extracts derived from plants and fungi that extend the lifespan of C. elegans, and explore the possibility that these natural substances may produce health benefits in humans.