Abstract:The aim of this study was to determine the variation in morphology of seeds, seed oil content and the fatty acid profile of M. longifolia and, to find the relationship between oil content and fatty acid composition with environmental conditions. Seeds were collected representing four agro-climatic zones in Sri Lanka. The length (2.7333-3.4333 cm), width (1.0633-1.2967 cm) and the weight (0.9262-1.4018 g) were determined in seeds. Significant differences were there within agro-climatic zones. Oil from seed kernel was extracted with Soxhlet method using n-Hexane (bp. 65-70° C) and the fatty acid profile was determined using GC-MS (Gas chromatography-Mass spectrophotometry). Results reveal significant differences in oil content (50.07-53.85%) among agro-climatic zones. As the major fatty acids, Oleic, Stearic, Palmitic and Linoleic were resulted in all four agro-climatic zones. The total saturated fatty acid content (C18:0, C16:0, C14:0, C17:0, C19:0, C22:0, C24:0, C26:0, C20:0 and C8:0) varied from 40.87-47.20%. However the total unsaturated fatty acid content (C16:1, C18:1, C18:2, C20:1) was within the range of 49.6-53.86% (TMUFA+TPUFA), here the highest content was recorded in low country intermediate zone and the lowest in mid country intermediate zone. Oil content and the fatty acid composition were not correlated with the studied geographical parameters.

BACKGROUND: Cocoa, one of the richest dietary sources of polyphenols has been studied for its health promoting effects, but how long-term consumption of cocoa affects age-associated health and lifespan is not well defined. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of long-term cocoa consumption on age-associated health and lifespan in C. elegans METHODS: The standard E. coli OP50 diet of wild type C. elegans was supplemented with cocoa powder starting from L1 stage until they die. Body length and area were measured as indicators of worm nutrition. Age associated health was determined at different stages of life as day 4, day 8 and day 12 using worm locomotion, thermotolerance, cognition and mitochondrial function. In addition, lifespan was evaluated. RESULTS: Cocoa improved age-associated decline in neuromuscular function. Both mean and median lifespan were extended by cocoa supplementation. However, maximum lifespan was not affected. Cocoa showed beneficial effects on thermotolerance at all ages (more prominent effects at young (day 4) and middle (day 8) age). Further, consumption of cocoa improved age-related learning deficits, short-term memory loss and mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term cocoa consumption seemed to improve age-associated health and extends lifespan in C. elegans

M. longifolia is a plant with a seed rich of edible oil (more than 50%), but is still under-utilized for edible purposes in Sri Lankan context. It shows a wide distribution throughout the country representing several agro-climatic zones. No studies have done yet to discover variations of M. longifolia seed oil with respect to its different geographical locations. In this study, the content of β-carotene in M. longifolia seed oil samples obtained from four different agro-climatic zones in Sri Lanka was evaluated. The effect of heat on the stability of β-carotene in M. longifolia seed oil was also studied. Dried, fallen seeds were collected from randomly selected trees in four agro-climatic zones in Sri Lanka named low country dry zone (LD), low country wet zone (LW), low country intermediate zone (LI) and mid country intermediate zone (MI). Oil was extracted with a small scale, mechanical oil expeller (cold pressed method). β-carotene content in four samples was assessed with MPOB test method using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometer and with High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) using Chase et al., (1994) method. A series of heat treatment (50 °C -300 °C) was given and the content of β-carotene was determined at each temperature with the above mentioned two methods. There were some differences in the content of β-carotene for two types of methods. β-carotene content varies from 17.69 to 13.51 ppm in four agro-climatic zones for HPLC method and 20.46 -27.69 ppm for spectrophotometric method. The reduction of β-carotene content up to 150 °C from the room temperature (30 °C) was not prominent. But after 150 °C, a sudden, sharp decrease was reported. Nutritional composition of seed cake varied significantly (p <0.05) among the different agro-climatic zones. Protein content, similar to Palm kernel was reported which ranged from 15.44 -17.76%.

The use of many psychotropic drugs (PDs) is associated with increased caloric intake, significant weight gain, and metabolic disorders. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been used to study the effects of PDs on food intake. However, little is known about PDs effects on the body fat of C. elegans . In C. elegans , feeding behavior and fat metabolism are regulated through independent mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the body fat and food intake of C. elegans in response to treatment olanzapine and fluoxetine. Here we report that, with careful consideration to the dosage used, administration of fluoxetine and olanzapine increases body fat and food intake in C. elegans .

Background: We previously showed that cocoa, a rich source of polyphenols improved the age-associated health and extended the lifespan in C. elegans when supplemented starting from L1 stage. Aim: In this study, we aimed to find out the effects of timing of cocoa exposure on longevity improving effects and the mechanisms and pathways involved in lifespan extension in C. elegans. Methods: The standard E. coli OP50 diet of wild type C. elegans was supplemented with cocoa powder starting from different larval stages (L1, L2, L3, and L4) till the death, from L1 to adult day 1 and from adult day 1 till the death. For mechanistic studies, different mutant strains of C. elegans were supplemented with cocoa starting from L1 stage till the death. Survival curves were plotted, and mean lifespan was reported. Results: Cocoa exposure starting from L1 stage till the death and till adult day 1 significantly extended the lifespan of worms. However, cocoa supplementation at other larval stages as well as at adulthood could not extend the lifespan, instead the lifespan was significantly reduced. Cocoa could not extend the lifespan of daf-16, daf-2, sir-2.1, and clk-1 mutants. Conclusion: Early-start supplementation is essential for cocoa-mediated lifespan extension which is dependent on insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway and mitochondrial respiration.