Using the experimental model C. elegans to in vivo deepen into the biomedical properties of the Romina strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivar: A look into tau protein-related Alzheimer’s disease, aging and redox biology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Romina strawberry cultivar is rich in bioactive compounds. Healthy properties of Romina have been only partially investigated. There are almost no information concerning aging and age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate about the effects of a methanolic extract of the strawberry Romina cultivar on aging, redox biology, and tau protein-related aspects of AD in Caenorhabditis elegans. METHODS: Caenorhabditis elegans strains were treated with 100, 500 or 1000μg/mL of a methanolic extract of the Romina cultivar and evaluated for toxicity, lifespan, tau protein expression and redox biology markers. RESULTS: No toxicity was found. Tau expression was lower in nematodes treated with 500 and 1000μg/mL. All treatments induced higher lifespan than control. Lipofuscin expression was higher in old nematodes and the treatments led to a lower expression in young and old animals. Redox biology markers were improved by strawberry treatment in young and old animals, but the best results were found for different dosages depending on age. CONCLUSIONS: Romina cultivar presented promising effects concerning tau-related AD and longevity. Romina might be considered from the point of view of a proper regulation of redox biology, but considering that treatment conditions should be adjusted by age.

In Vitro and In Vivo Insights into a Broccoli Byproduct as a Healthy Ingredient for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease and Aging through Redox Biology

“…Scientific literature about the effect of broccoli or its compounds on tau protein is quite scarce, but again, sulforaphane cleared the accumulation of tau in a primary cell culture and the hyperphosphorylation in a transgenic mice model . Other natural products have also demonstrated a positive effect on Aβ and Tau toxicity in this experimental model, such as strawberry, , avocado honey, and oleuropein- and hydroxytyrosol- rich olive leaves extract.…”

“…Consequently, processes unrelated to ROS are also linked to lipofuscin accumulation, including autophagy. , Therefore, that kind of process may be altered in aged worms, which may not be modulated by BRO, explaining the noneffect observed in lipofuscin content. No data on broccoli or its byproducts have been found; however, other treatments, such as strawberry extract, partially prevented the accumulation of this pigment at the same concentration as BRO, probably mediated by anthocyanins …”

“…N2 strain was used to perform survival curves in order to evaluate the potential long-term toxic effect of BRO . One hundred and twenty L3 synchronized worms were placed on fresh plates containing the treatments or the control plus E.…”

“…N2 strain was used to perform survival curves in order to evaluate the potential long-term toxic effect of BRO. 22 One hundred and twenty L3 synchronized worms were placed on fresh plates containing the treatments or the control plus E. coli OP50 and maintained at 20 °C. The concentrations used were 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 7500, and 10 000 μg/mL.…”

“…Images were acquired with a 10× objective lens and the autofluorescence of the worms was analyzed using the software NIS-Elements BR (Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). 22 A minimum of 30 worms per group were measured. Results are the percentage to the control for the average of total blue (DAPI) fluorescence intensity for each worm.…”