Abstract: In order to investigate the antioxidant and anti-aging effect of sweet potato juice, Drosophila melanogaster was chosen as an animal model. Male and female Drosophila melanogaster with eclosion and without mating within 8 h were fed on a diet supplemented with low, moderate or high doses (0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mg/mL) of sweet potato juice. The survival rate of D. melanogaster was investigated, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured in its homogenate. The results showed that compared with the control group, average life span and maximum life span in all dose groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. SOD activity and T-AOC were significantly increased in all dose groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), whereas MDA content was significantly decreased in the middle- and high-dose groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, average life span in the high-dose group was extended by 17.93% and 16.00% for female and male flies, the activity of SOD was increased by 50.51% and 58.61%, T-AOC activity was increased by 79.73% and 62.67%, while the content of MDA was decreased by 35.59% and 37.14%, respectively. In conclusion, sweet potato juice can prolong life span and delay aging in D. melanegaster.

Key words: sweet potato juice, senescence resistance, life span, Drosophila melanogaster