Lifespan extension and delay of age-related functional decline caused by Rhodiola roseadepends on dietary macronutrient balance

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rhizome powder from the herb Rhodiola rosea, a traditional Western Ukraine medicinal adaptogen, on lifespan and age-related physiological functions of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.ResultsFlies fed food supplemented with 5.0 mg/ml and 10.0 mg/ml of R. rosea rhizome powder had a 14% to 17% higher median lifespan, whereas at 30.0 mg/ml lifespan was decreased by 9% to 12%. The preparation did not decrease fly fecundity.The effect of R. rosea supplement on lifespan was dependent on diet composition. Lifespan extension by 15% to 21% was observed only for diets with protein-to-carbohydrate ratios less than 1. Lifespan extension was also dependent on total concentration of macronutrients. Thus, for the diet with 15% yeast and 15% sucrose there was no lifespan extension, while for the diet with protein-to-carbohydrate ratio 20:1 R. rosea decreased lifespan by about 10%.Flies fed Rhodiola preparation were physically more active, less sensitive to the redox-cycling compound menadione and had a longer time of heat coma onset compared with controls. Positive effects of Rhodiola rhizome on stress resistance and locomotor activity were highest at the ‘middle age’.ConclusionsThe present data show that long-term food supplementation with R. rosea rhizome not only increases D. melanogaster lifespan, but also delays age-related decline of physical activity and increases stress resistance, what depends on protein-to-carbohydrate ratio of the diet.

Effect of semolina-jaggery diet on survival and development ofDrosophila melanogaster

“…Most pharmacological, gerontological, and demographic investigations require an abundance of flies for individual treatment. [10][11][12][13][14] Thus, the maintenance of a bulk population of flies in such studies is of prime significance.…”

Humulus japonicus extract exhibits antioxidative and anti-aging effects via modulation of the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway

“…Previous studies have hypothesized that medicinal plants, such as Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba and Rhodiola rosea, may exert beneficial effects on cellular senescence and longevity, which are associated with the aging process (31)(32)(33)(34). Although H. japonicus has been described and used as a traditional remedy in Korea and China, limited information is available with regard to the underlying biological activities, active phytochemicals and action mechanisms of this plant.…”

Treating multiple antiaging pathways improves health markers in open label clinical study

“…Rhodiola rosea extracts also have extended lifespan in several animal models [22][23][24][25], which suggest a positive effect on life expectancy.…”

“…The clinical trial (IRCM-2016-091) was approved for up to 20 subjects by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the Institute of Regenerative and Cellular Medicine on Feb. 25,2016. Written informed consent for the clinical trial was obtained from all volunteers prior to baseline testing and the informed consent forms were approved by the IRB.…”