Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica Extracts Ameliorate Behavioral Deficits in an In Vivo Drosophila melanogaster Model of Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Due to an increase in the aging population, age-related diseases and age-related changes, such as diminished cognition and sleep disturbances, are an increasing health threat. It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress underlies many of these changes. Current treatments for these diseases and changes either have low efficacy or have deleterious side effects preventing long-time use. Therefore, alternative treatments that promote healthy aging and provide resilience against these health threats are needed. The herbs Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica may be two such alternatives because both have been connected with reducing oxidative stress and could therefore ameliorate age-related impairments. To test the effects of these herbs on behavioral phenotypes induced by oxidative stress, we used the Drosophila melanogaster sniffer mutant which has high levels of oxidative stress due to reduced carbonyl reductase activity. Effects on cognition and mobility were assessed using phototaxis assays and both, W. somnifera and C. asiatica water extracts improved phototaxis in sniffer mutants. In addition, W. somnifera improved nighttime sleep in male and female sniffer flies and promoted a less fragmented sleep pattern in male sniffer flies. This suggests that W. somnifera and C. asiatica can ameliorate oxidative stress-related changes in behavior and that by doing so they might promote healthy aging in humans.

Withania somnifera Extracts Promote Resilience against Age-Related and Stress-Induced Behavioral Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster; a Possible Role of Other Compounds besides Withanolides

“…To determine whether WS provides resilience against these age-related changes, we used the fast phototaxis test, in which the flies have to locate and run toward a light source after being startled. We previously showed that supplementing standard food with 0.5 mg/g or 2.0 mg/g of the WS water extract improved the performance of the Drosophila sniffer mutant that shows increased oxidative damage [ 40 ] in this assay [ 41 ]. We therefore also initially used these concentrations to assess whether this had positive effects on the age-related decline in performance.…”

Chlorogenic Acids, Acting via Calcineurin, Are the Main Compounds in Centella asiatica Extracts That Mediate Resilience to Chronic Stress in Drosophila melanogaster

“…or the supplemented food was also given during the three days of stress induction during the rest period at night (continuous treatment, con., Figure 2 A). In previous experiments, testing CAW in a Drosophila model of oxidative stress, we found that it had a protective effect at a dose of 10 mg/g of food and we therefore used this dose to test for beneficial effects on depression [ 32 ].…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward sleep disorders and sleep hygiene among perimenopausal women

“…To address suboptimal practice, interventions should emphasize the importance of sleep hygiene and provide practical strategies to enhance sleep-related behaviors. Behavioral interventions, such as stimulus control therapy, can be introduced to modify practice associated with poor sleep hygiene 31 . Educational materials should be tailored to address specific problematic practice identified in the study, promoting realistic and feasible alternatives that align with evidence-based recommendations.…”

“…The item that gauges the consistency of participants' daily schedules highlights a favorable practice linked with sleep hygiene. 31 . Educational materials should be tailored to address specific problematic practice identified in the study, promoting realistic and feasible alternatives that align with evidence-based recommendations.…”