Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2025
12:23
Measuring Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span in 96 Well Microtiter Plates
Published on: March 18, 2011
36.4K
Berberine Extends Lifespan in C. elegans Through Multi-Target Synergistic Antioxidant Effects
Yingshuo Bei1, Ting Wang1, Shuwen Guan1
1School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 8, 2025
Summary
Berberine, a natural compound, significantly extends lifespan and enhances stress resistance in worms by activating key aging-related pathways. This research provides insights into berberine
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Aging is a complex process linked to physiological decline and disease.
- Berberine, from *Coptis chinensis*, shows potential for anti-aging applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lifespan-extending effects and molecular mechanisms of berberine in *C. elegans*.
- To explore berberine's interaction with the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway.
Main Methods:
- Lifespan assays, locomotor activity, oxidative stress tests, and transcriptomic profiling in *C. elegans*.
- Utilized mutant and transgenic worm models to study IIS pathway interactions.
Main Results:
- Berberine extended mean lifespan by 27% in wild-type worms.
- Activated transcription factors (DAF-16/FOXO, HSF-1, SKN-1/NRF2), boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing cellular aging markers.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed berberine's impact on lipid metabolism pathways.
Conclusions:
- Berberine demonstrates multi-target anti-aging effects via stress response activation and metabolic optimization.
- Provides mechanistic understanding for developing natural geroprotective strategies.
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