TSG (2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside)‎ from the Chinese Herb Polygonum multiflorum Increases Life Span and Stress Resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract EN

2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) was isolated from Polygonum multiflorum, a plant which is traditionally used as an anti-ageing drug.

We have analysed ageing-related effects of TSG in the model organism C.

elegans in comparison to resveratrol.

TSG exerted a high antioxidative capacity both in a cell-free assay and in the nematode.

The antioxidative capacity was even higher compared to resveratrol.

Presumably due to its antioxidative effects, treatment with TSG decreased the juglone-mediated induction of the antioxidative enzyme SOD-3; the induction of the GST-4 by juglone was diminished slightly.

TSG increased the resistance of C.

elegans against lethal thermal stress more prominently than resveratrol (50 μM TSG increased mean survival by 22.2%).

The level of the ageing pigment lipofuscin was decreased after incubation with the compound.

TSG prolongs the mean, median, and maximum adult life span of C.

elegans by 23.5%, 29.4%, and 7.2%, respectively, comparable to the effects of resveratrol.

TSG-mediated extension of life span was not abolished in a DAF-16 loss-of-function mutant strain showing that this ageing-related transcription factor is not involved in the effects of TSG.

Our data show that TSG possesses a potent antioxidative capacity, enhances the stress resistance, and increases the life span of the nematode C.

elegans.