Study on the anti-aging and antioxidant effects of aqueous extract of Ephedra saxatilis on Caenorhabditis elegans

WANG Shiyan; WANG Sujuan; ZHANG Shengnan; DE Ji

doi:10.13506/j.cnki.jpr.2025.11.001

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of the aqueous extract of Ephedra saxatilis Royle ex Florin on anti-ag-ing and antioxidant activity on Caenorhabditis elegans.Methods Wildtype N2 nematodes were chosen and exposed to aque-ous extract of Ephedra saxatilis for treatment groups with 100,300,and 500 μg·mL-1 and comparative to normal control group.A systematic evaluation of anti-aging effects were conducted through lifespan assays,pharyngeal pumping frequency tests,egg-laying quantification,locomotion ability assessments,lipofuscin fluorescence intensity analysis,and Determination of malondialdehyde(MDA)content,reduced glutathione(GSH)content,and the activities of antioxidant enzymes[super-Ooxide dismutase(SOD),and catalase(CAT)].Results Compared to the normal control group,all different concentration of aqueous Extract of Ephedra saxatilis significantly extended nematode lifespan(P＜0.05)and reduced lipofuscin accumu-lation(P＜0.01).CAT activity(P＜0.01)and GSH content(P＜0.05)increased in a dose-dependent manner,while MDA levels significantly decreased in high concen-tration(300 and 500 μg·mL-1)groups(P＜0.01).Conversely,SOD activity was significantly inhibited at higher concentrations(P＜0.01).Additionally,the E.saxatilis extraction showed no significant changes of pharyngeal pumping frequency,egg-laying capacity,or body length/width of C.elegans(P＞0.05).Conclusion The aqueous extract of E.saxatilis may effectively delay the aging process of C.elegans by activating CAT and GSH antioxi-dant pathways,inhibiting lipid peroxidation(MDA),and reducing lipofuscin accumulation.However,its bidirectional regula-tion on SOD requires further study.