Time-dependent effects of late-onset dietary intake of salidroside on lifespan and age-related biomarkers of the annual fish <i>Nothobranchius guentheri</i>

Abstract

One of the most studied and widely accepted conjectures of aging process is the oxidative stress theory. Previous studies have shown that salidroside can protect D-galactose-induced mouse model against aging and a formulation of <i>Rhodiola rosea</i> extracts (SHR-5) containing salidroside increases lifespan of fruit fly. However, direct evidence linking salidroside itself with the observed anti-aging effect <i>in vivo</i> and relevant molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. In this study, we first demonstrated that salidroside exhibited a time-dependent effect, and late-onset long-term salidroside dietary intake extended the lifespan in the annual fish <i>Nothobranchius guentheri</i>. We then showed that salidroside reduced the accumulation of lipofuscin in the gills as well as the levels of protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species in the muscles; enhanced the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the fish; and decelerated the increase of P66shc, a critical factor for regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species contents. Collectively, these data indicate that salidroside can prolong the lifespan and retard the onset of age-related biomarkers via the antioxidant system in aging fish. It also suggests that salidroside may have a potential usefulness in prolonging the lifespan of the elderly.