Ellagic Acid Increases Stress Resistance via Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling Pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenol found in various fruits and vegetables. Numerous studies have shown that ellagic acid has beneficial effects on human health. In this study, we investigated the stress resistant action of ellagic acid in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Notably, 50 μM ellagic acid prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans by 36.25%, 36.22%, 155.1%, and 79.07% under ultraviolet radiation stress, heat stress, oxidative stress, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection stress, respectively. Furthermore, the mechanism by which ellagic acid reduces the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation in C. elegans was explored. Ellagic acid could significantly induce the nucleus translocation of DAF-16 and, thereby, activate a series of target genes to resist ultraviolet radiation stress. Moreover, ellagic acid also significantly increased the expression of SOD-3 by 3.61 times and the activity of superoxide dismutase by 3.70 times to clean out harmful reactive oxygen species in C. elegans exposed to ultraviolet radiation stress. In both daf-16 mutant and daf-2;daf-16 double-mutant worms exposed to ultraviolet radiation, ellagic acid could no longer prolong their lifespan. These results indicate that ellagic acid plays an important role in resisting ultraviolet radiation stress in C. elegans, probably in an insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway-dependent way.

Oral administration of ellagic acid mitigates perioperative neurocognitive disorders, hippocampal oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in aged mice by restoring IGF-1 signaling

“…The complexity of the IGF-1 pathway, which is influenced by a multitude of factors such as growth hormones 66 , oxidative stress 66 , and microRNAs 67 , poses a significant challenge. Although existing research, including studies on Caenorhabditis elegans, suggests that EA may enhance stress resistance through the insulin/IGF-1 pathway 68 , the broad biological effects of EA, encompassing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, could impact IGF-1 signaling in various ways. Consequently, there is a compelling need for further investigation into the specific mechanisms of EA's interaction with IGF-1 signaling.…”

Cornus officinalis Extract Enriched with Ursolic Acid Ameliorates UVB-Induced Photoaging in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Combined with the method reported in a previous study [ 24 ], the treated nematodes were collected in M9 buffer after UVB irradiation, washed three times, resuspended in M9 buffer, and then crushed into a homogenate with a biological grinder on ice. After centrifugation, the supernatant was collected for experimentation.…”

“…For instance, Tartary buckwheat extract could ameliorate the vital indicators of C. elegans , including the accumulation of ROS and malondialdehyde values caused by UVB exposure [ 23 ]. Ellagic acid could significantly increase the expression of SOD-3 and the activity of superoxide dismutase to clean out harmful ROS in C. elegans exposed to ultraviolet radiation stress [ 24 ]. Currently, a number of genes and pathways have been identified to regulate oxidative stress and prolong the lifespan in C. elegans , including the DAF-16/FOXO, SKN-1/Nrf2, and mitochondrial electron transport chain pathways.…”

Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin as Natural Antimicrobial Agents for the Treatment of Wound Infections

“…The hydrogel products containing EA showed antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas (the growth inhibition zone was 14 mm, while the positive control (cefepime) was 34 mm) [237]. In the Bai et al (2022) study, the EA at 50 µmol prolonged the survival of a model nematode (C. elegans) with P. aeruginosa infection by 79.07% and reduced the number of pathogens in the model organism tissues [245]. Another study also showed the positive effect of 3,3 ′ -di-O-methyl ellagic acid on P. aeruginosa.…”