Anti-aging effect of icariin on caenorhabditis elegans

WANG Kai-he; WANG Shi-feng; MU Lei-xin; LIU Tian; KE Cai-yi; XU Guang; MA Qun

doi:10.20251/j.cnki.1003-3734.2025.04.015

Abstract：Objective:To study the anti-aging activity and mechanism of icariin by using Caenorhabditis elegans models.Methods:The anti-aging activity of icariin was investigated by determining its effects on the survival rate,vitality,and body fat content of Caenorhabditis elegans infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14,as well as its impact on the oxidative stress,heat stress,and lipofuscin levels in wild-type N2 Caenorhabditis elegans.Additionally,to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-aging properties of icariin,the nuclear translocation of decay accelerating factor-16(DAF-16)in mutant nematode TJ356 and the expression of superoxide dismutase-3(SOD-3)in mutant nematode CF1553 were measured.Results:Icariin significantly improved the survival rate,vitality,and body fat content of Caenorhabditis elegans in P.aeruginosa PA14 infection,enhanced the tolerance of Caenorhabditis elegans under heat stress and oxidative stress injury,decreased the deposition of lipofuscin,and promoted the DAF-16 nuclear translocation of mutant Caenorhabditis elegans TJ356.The expression level of SOD-3 protein in mutant nematode CF1553 was significantly increased.Conclusion:Icariin has significant anti-aging activity which is probably achieved by promoting the nuclear translocation of DAF-16 and stimulating the expression of SOD-3.