Tropical plant extracts for oxidative stress reduction and telomere stabilization in C. elegans longevity model

Overview

This research program investigates the capacity of polyphenol-rich extracts from four Colombian tropical plants to reduce oxidative stress and stabilize telomere length, using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a validated biological model. The selected species — Matisia cordata Bonpl, Bactris gasipaes Kunth, Genipa americana L, and Mangifera indica L — are sourced from a curated biobank of 80 tropical plants maintained by the laboratory, all characterized for their polyphenolic content and antioxidant potential.

The platform addresses a growing commercial interest in natural compounds that modulate aging-related biomarkers. By combining standardized extract preparation with a fast-cycling C. elegans model (including wild-type and Daf-2/Daf-16 mutant strains), the program generates reproducible, quantitative evidence of anti-stress and telomere-protective effects. Results are intended to support ingredient validation for nutraceutical, functional food, cosmeceutical, and longevity-oriented product development.

Technical specifications

Plant materials and extract preparation:

• Four tropical species selected from a biobank of 80 plants, previously characterized for total phenolic content via the Folin-Ciocalteu method
• Both ethanolic and aqueous extraction protocols to compare polar and non-polar bioactive fractions
• Extracts stored in a dedicated natural extracts biobank for traceability and reproducibility

Biological model:

• Caenorhabditis elegans wild-type and longevity mutants (Daf-2, Daf-16) cultured under standardized laboratory conditions on E. coli-supplemented medium
• Cloned populations enabling controlled genetic background across experiments

Validation assays:

• Cytotoxicity screening with IC50 determination as the dependent variable
• Factorial experimental design evaluating plant type, extract type (ethanolic vs. aqueous), and concentration as independent variables
• Viability and antioxidant activity assessed using ABTS, DPH, and MTT techniques
• Telomere length quantification via qPCR on post-treatment C. elegans subgroups
• In vitro peroxide-induced oxidative stress model to test protective effects
• Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc testing (significance threshold p<0.05)

Technology readiness level

The program is at an early-to-mid experimental stage (TRL 3–4). The plant biobank and phenolic compound characterization are already established. Current and planned work focuses on in vitro validation of antioxidant activity and telomere stabilization in the C. elegans model, with an estimated one-year timeline to complete the full exposure study and telomere length assessment. The next milestones include completing dose-response curves, confirming telomere-protective effects in mutant strains, and preparing data for potential translational studies in mammalian models or pilot formulation testing.