Abstract:

Objective: To explore the lifespan-prolonging effect of chitooligosaccharides (COS) at various concentrations
on Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in order for these compounds to be developed into anti-aging drugs. Methods:
C. elegans as a model organism were cultured in the absence (control) or presence of different concentrations (50, 100,
200 and 400 mg/L) of COS with a relative molecular mass not greater than 1 000. The effects of COS on the lifespan,
reproductive capacity, movement speed and swallowing frequency of C. elegans were examined. Results: Compared with the
control group, the lifespan of C. elegans was prolonged by COS at concentrations larger than 200 mg/L (P < 0.05). COS at
all investigated concentrations could significantly extend the mean and maximum lifespan of C. elegans and 400 mg/L was
the most effective concentration for prolonging the lifespan of C. elegans. Compared with the control group, the movement
speed and swallowing frequency of C. elegans were increased when the concentration of COS was higher than 100 mg/L
(P < 0.01), reaching a plateau at 400 mg/L. Conclusion: COS with relative molecular mass equal to or less than 1 000 at
concentrations of 50–400 mg/L can significantly improve the mean and maximum lifespan of C. elegans.

Key words: Caenorhabditis elegans, model organism, lifespan, chitooligosaccharides, anti-aging