Anti-aging effect of polysaccharides from the peel of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

ABSTRACT Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. Et Zucc. (green pepper), a well-known traditional Chinese spice, recent studies found that the water extract of Z. schinifolium could significantly enhance the innate immune system, and Z. schinifolium peel polysaccharide (ZSPP) in the water extract is one of the active ingredients where antioxidant and anti-aging properties of ZSPP is yet to be determined. Caenorhabditis elegans was employed to see if ZSPP has anti-aging properties. After medication with ZSPP, the longevity, motility ability, and stress resilience of C. elegans were measured. We studied C. elegans brood growth and the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signalling pathway to learn more about the mechanism of ZSPP's anti-aging action. According to statistical analysis of the experimental results, ZSPP therapy increased the longevity of C. elegans, as well as its motility capacity and stress tolerance. ZSPP was discovered to get a protective effect on UV-irradiated C. elegans in specific and ZSPP had no influence on C. elegans reproduction. However, after ZSPP therapy, the levels of age-1 and hcf-1 mRNA were lowered. In C. elegans, ZSPP has an anti-aging impact via the insulin/IGF signaling system, but it has the potential to evolve into a multifunctional diet in the long term.