| Aging is a complex process with increasing accumulation of large moneculors damage in cells and decreasing maintance of orgnism balance. Diet is one important factor of regulating aging process. A number of studies have demastroted suuplemented functional compounds could improve the health of many species and human, and prevent or treat chronic disease related with aging. Curcumin, one of polyphenolic compounds extracted from the rhizome of turmeric and widely used as spice and natural pigment in food industry, possesses diverse bioactivities including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, liver protection, anti-tumors, anti-atherosclerosis. Dietary phenolics are beneficial for health and longevity by reducing oxidative stress and regulating signal transduction and gene expression Curcumin appeared to possess potential to slow down aging process due to its pharmacological activities. Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are the necessary unsaturated fatty acids playing a key role in energy metabolism, cells and membrane structure and physiological regulation in human. This study was to reaserch the effect and the mechanism of curcumin and unsaturated fatty acids (18Cn-3 and 18Cn-6) on slowing downing aging of Drosophila.Females and males of Drosophila were fed to diets supplemented with curcumin extract with 0(CK), 0.5(C1) and 1.0(C2) mg in 1g diet, respectively. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in females and males were analyzed, respectively. We showed that C1 and C2 increased the mean lifespan by 6.2% and 25.8% in females, and by 15.5% and 12.6% in males, respectively. Meanwhile, C1 and C2 significantly decreased MDA accumulation and increased SOD activity in both genders. One and 0.5 mg curcumin per gram food are both effective doses for lifespan extension and improving levels of the two physical and biochemical measures related to aging in Drosophila. The present study demonstrated the relationship between lifespan extension and antioxidant effect of curcumin in Drosophila.Flies were fed diets supplemented with ALA and LA in four different ratios of n-3/n-6 C18 PUFA:0:2,1:2,1:1 and 2:0. Fatty acids (FA) compositions in diets and flies were measured. Our results showed that the supplemented C18 PUFAs in the ratio of n-3/n-6: 1:1 and 1:2 increased mean lifespan by 13.4～19.9% compared to the diet supplemented with n-6 PUFA alone. This lifespan extension effect was associated with differences in the relative content of ALA in total fatty acid (6.3～14.0%) and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio (0.5 and 1:1) in Drosophila body.In summary, the present study for the first time examined the effect of curcumin on lifespan in Drosophila and to understand the relationship between curcumin and antioxidation on lipid peroxidation and SOD activity. In the orher hand, the ratios of 18Cn-3/n-6 PUFA modify aging process of Drosophila. Future studies are required to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which curcumin and the n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio regulate lifespan in Drosophila, and it will promote the application of curcumin and 18Cn-3/n-6 in functional food. |
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