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A Simple Method for High Throughput Chemical Screening in Caenorhabditis Elegans
Published on: March 20, 2018
Anti-aging effects of medicinal plants and their rapid screening using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Xiaodan Chen1, Faranak Bahramimehr2, Nasim Shahhamzehei2
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
Background:
Aging is the primary risk factor of most chronic diseases in humans, including cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases, which extensively damage the quality of life for elderly individuals. Aging is a multifaceted process with numerous factors affecting it. Efficient model organisms are essential for the research and development of anti-aging agents, particularly when investigating pharmacological mechanisms are needed.
Purpose:
This review discusses the application of Caenorhabditis elegans for studying aging and its related signaling pathways, and presents an overview of studies exploring the mechanism and screening of anti-aging agents in C. elegans. Additionally, the review summarizes related clinical trials of anti-aging agents to inspire the development of new medications.
Method:
Literature was searched, analyzed, and collected using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The search terms used were "anti-aging", "medicinal plants", "synthetic compounds", "C. elegans", "signal pathway", etc. Several combinations of these keywords were used. Studies conducted in C. elegans or humans were included. Articles were excluded, if they were on studies conducted in silico or in vitro or could not offer effective data.
Results:
Four compounds mainly derived through synthesis (metformin, rapamycin, nicotinamide mononucleotide, alpha-ketoglutarate) and four active ingredients chiefly obtained from plants (resveratrol, quercetin, Astragalus polysaccharide, ginsenosides) are introduced emphatically. These compounds and active ingredients exhibit potential anti-aging effects in preclinical and clinical studies. The screening of these anti-aging agents and the investigation of their pharmacological mechanisms can benefit from the use of C. elegans.
Conclusion:
Medicinal plants provide valuable resource for the treatment of diseases. A wide source of raw materials for the particular plant medicinal compounds having anti-aging effects meet diverse pharmaceutical requirements, such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammation and alleviating oxidative stress. C. elegans possesses advantages in scientific research including short life cycle, small size, easy maintenance, genetic tractability and conserved biological processes related to aging. C. elegans can be used for the efficient and rapid evaluation of compounds with the potential to slow down aging.
Insights
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a valuable model organism for studying aging and screening anti-aging compounds. This worm facilitates rapid evaluation of natural and synthetic compounds, aiding in the development of new anti-aging medications.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and pharmacology
- Biomedical research utilizing model organisms
Background:
- Aging is a primary risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, significantly impacting elderly quality of life.
- Understanding aging mechanisms is crucial for developing effective anti-aging interventions.
- Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) offers a powerful model for aging research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of C. elegans in aging research and signaling pathway studies.
- To present an overview of anti-aging agent mechanisms and screening in C. elegans.
- To summarize clinical trials of anti-aging agents to guide new drug development.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct using keywords like "anti-aging", "C. elegans", and "signal pathway".
- Inclusion of studies conducted in C. elegans or humans, excluding in silico or in vitro research.
- Analysis of data on synthetic compounds, medicinal plants, and their effects on aging.
Main Results:
- Identified eight key anti-aging compounds: four synthetic (metformin, rapamycin, nicotinamide mononucleotide, alpha-ketoglutarate) and four plant-derived (resveratrol, quercetin, Astragalus polysaccharide, ginsenosides).
- These compounds show potential anti-aging effects in preclinical and clinical studies.
- C. elegans is beneficial for screening anti-aging agents and investigating their pharmacological mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Medicinal plants are a rich source of compounds with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties for anti-aging applications.
- C. elegans offers advantages for aging research, including a short lifespan, small size, genetic manipulability, and conserved aging pathways.
- C. elegans enables efficient and rapid evaluation of compounds with potential to slow aging.
