Abstract:

Hawthorn fruits contain flavonoids, which can play roles in antioxidant capacity. The present research was focused
on the effect of dietary supplementation of a hawthorn fruit extract rich in flavonoids at various doses (0, 0.8 and 4 mg/mL)
on Drosophila melanogaster life span, antioxidant enzymes activities and related gene expression. The results showed that the
life span of Drosophila melanogaster could be prolonged by consumption of the hawthorn fruit extract. Moreover, CuZn-SOD
activity was increased significantly (0.8 mg/mL, P ＜ 0.05 and 4 mg/mL, P ＜ 0.01); CAT activity was enhanced
significantly at the dose of 4 mg/mL (P ＜ 0.05) while the content of MDA was decreased. Real time-PCR showed that
the mRNA expression of CuZn-SOD, CAT (4 mg/mL, P ＜ 0.05), and PHGSH-Px (0.8 mg/mL, P ＜ 0.05; 4 mg/mL,
P ＜ 0.01) were increased. Taken together, the hawthorn fruit extract can exert antioxidant activity in vivo via up-regulation
of endogenous antioxidant enzymes.

Key words: Drosophila melanogaster, hawthorn fruit extract, lifespan, enzyme activity, gene expression