<i>Withania somnifera</i> and <i>Centella asiatica</i> Extracts Ameliorate Behavioral Deficits in an In Vivo <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Model of Oxidative Stress
Kadine Cabey,
Dani M. Long,
Alexander Law,
Nora E. Gray,
Christine McClure,
Maya Caruso,
Parnian Lak,
Kirsten M. Wright,
Jan F. Stevens,
Claudia S. Maier,
Amala Soumyanath,
Doris Kretzschmar
Affiliations
Kadine Cabey
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Dani M. Long
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Alexander Law
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Nora E. Gray
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Christine McClure
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Maya Caruso
Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Parnian Lak
Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Kirsten M. Wright
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Jan F. Stevens
Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Claudia S. Maier
Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Amala Soumyanath
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Doris Kretzschmar
BENFRA Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Due to an increase in the aging population, age-related diseases and age-related changes, such as diminished cognition and sleep disturbances, are an increasing health threat. It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress underlies many of these changes. Current treatments for these diseases and changes either have low efficacy or have deleterious side effects preventing long-time use. Therefore, alternative treatments that promote healthy aging and provide resilience against these health threats are needed. The herbs Withania somnifera and Centella asiatica may be two such alternatives because both have been connected with reducing oxidative stress and could therefore ameliorate age-related impairments. To test the effects of these herbs on behavioral phenotypes induced by oxidative stress, we used the Drosophila melanogaster sniffer mutant which has high levels of oxidative stress due to reduced carbonyl reductase activity. Effects on cognition and mobility were assessed using phototaxis assays and both, W. somnifera and C. asiatica water extracts improved phototaxis in sniffer mutants. In addition, W. somnifera improved nighttime sleep in male and female sniffer flies and promoted a less fragmented sleep pattern in male sniffer flies. This suggests that W. somnifera and C. asiatica can ameliorate oxidative stress-related changes in behavior and that by doing so they might promote healthy aging in humans.
