Effect of Hawthorn on Drosophila Melanogaster Antioxidant-Related Gene Expression

Purpose: To study the effects of various doses of hawthorn extract on Drosophila lifespan, antioxidant enzyme activity and expression of antioxidant-related regulation genes. Methods: Experiments with Drosophila as an animal model were conducted. The effects of hawthorn on Drosophila melanogaster antioxidant related gene expression were investigated by lifespan tests of Drosophila, antioxidant enzyme activity assay of Drosophila, and mRNA expression of antioxidant genes by real time-PCR assay. Results: The results indicate that hawthorn extract prolonged the life span of Drosophila, with 50 % survival time of 0.8 and 4 mg/mL groups being increased from 52 days (control) to 56 and 62 days, respectively. Addition of 0.8 mg/mL hawthorn extract increased CuZn-SOD enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05); the 4 mg/mL extract significantly increased CuZn-SOD enzyme (p < 0.01) and CAT enzyme activity (p < 0.05), but decreased MDA levels. Real time-PCR results show that the 4 mg/mL extract significantly improved the expression levels of CuZn-SOD and CAT mRNA (p < 0.05); on the other hand, both extract concentrations improved PHGSH-Px mRNA level significantly compared with that of control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The antioxidant activity of hawthorn in vivo may be achieved by increasing endogenous antioxidant enzymes.