Preprint / Version 1

Withania somnifera root extract extends lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans

Authors

  • Ranjeet Kumar Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, INDIA
  • Kuldeep Gupta Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, INDIA
  • Kopal Saharia Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, INDIA
  • Deepak Pradhan IXOREAL Biomed Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, INDIA
  • Jamuna Ph.D Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, INDIA

Keywords:

C. elegans, Lifespan extension, Ashwagandha, Withanolides

Abstract

In the ancient Indian herbal medicine system several ayurvedic preparations are claimed to have longevity enhancing effects. But, so far, no clear scientific evidence has been provided. One among them, is the roots of the plant, commonly known as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal- WSD), which is supposed to have myriad of beneficial effects including long life. Purpose Here, we evaluated both the root extract (RE) and its purified ingredients (PI-RE) with a similar composition as in RE obtained from the roots of WSD for lifespan extension in the well established model system, C. elegans. PI-RE could extend the lifespan of C. elegans. Methods We used wild type C. elegans (N2) or RB918: acr-16 (ok789); andNL2099: rrf-3 (pk1426) mutant worms and analysed their lifespan assay in Ashwagandha extract spreaded on plates containing Bacterial Lawns. Results Strangely, while there was no effect on the wild type worms, the mutant for the human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, nAchR, α7 equivalent, acr-16, showed around ~20% lifespan extension when treated with PI-RE. Conclusion Thus, we are able to show that one of the age old healthy longlife supplements, Ashwagandha does extend lifespan of C. elegans. Keywords: C. elegans, Lifespan extension, Ashwagandha, Withanolides

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