Feeding Of Grape Seed Procyanidins Affects The Life Cycle Of Caenorhabditis Elegans

Procyanidins (PC), a poly phenolic compounds which widely present in many plants, has many biological activity. However, few reports involve the study on influence of feeding PC extracted from grap seeds on the aging of the host. This study deals with the use of grape seed procyanidins(GSP) to feed Caenorhabditis elegans in order to observe the impacts of grape seed procyanidins on the lifespan, physiological indicators, biochemical parameters, and stress resistances of the nematode. Its aim is to help the GSP to find new way as anti-aging preparations. The following are main findings.1. Feeding GSP significantly improved the lifespan of C. elegans. Feeding of200μg/mL procyanidins may delay the aging of the nematode better. Compared to the controls, the average life expectancy of the nematodes reached25.9d in the presence of200μg/mL procyanidins, with a significantly extending by25.7%. The maximum lifespan of C. elegans reached32.6d, with significantly extending by24.0%.2. Feeding grape seed procyanidins significantly enhanced the movement of C.elegans. The average daily number of peaks per minute for the nematode was significantly extend by13.2%, and the poor athletic performance of the nematode due to aging was eased clearly.3. GSP did not inhibit the growth of E. coli OP50as the only food of C.elegans. It means that the extened lifespan of the nematode was energy-independent, and only depended on the feeding of grape seed procyanidins.4. GSP did not produce negative effect on reproductive capacity of C. elegans, but significantly reduced body length of the nematode. The body length of adult C.elegans reduced by8.48%in the presence of200μg/mL GSP. Therefore, the effects of GSP on the life cycle may be attributed to the theory "conflicting requirements for resources", that is more energy is shifted from growth to survival behavior.5. Feeding GSP protected the nematodes against the demage of stress conditions like heat and oxidative treatments, prolonging its survival time. Compared to the controls, the mean survival time of C.elegans exposed to heat stress in feeding procyanidins group was19.6h, and was significantly extended by27.3%. When C.elegans was subjected to oxidative stress, its average survival time in the group of feeding procyanidins was72.2h, and was significantly prolonged by11.2%. Obviously, the roles of grape seed procyanidins in delaying the aging are due to improving the tolerant ability of the nematodes against stress conditions.In conclusions, the present research proves the roles of grape seed procyanidins in improving aging in terms of C.elegans as a lifespan model. The results obtained from the present study provide the theoretical foundation basis for the fine processing and utilization of procyanidins-rich berry plants.