Increased healthspan and resistance to Parkinson's disease in Drosophila by boiled and freeze-dried mature silk worm larval powder

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology 2016, 19(2), , pp.551-561
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Phuong, Kim, Kee-Young, Kim, A-Young, Kim, Nam-Suk, Kweon, HaeYong, Ji, Sang-Deok, Koh, Young Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Drosophila; Healthspan; Odor response; Parkinson's disease; Rotenone; 농수해양학
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2016.05.003

Recent improvements in hygiene and innovations in medical technology have dramatically extended the average lifespan of humans in developed countries. However, extension of lifespan does not correlate with increased healthspan. In this study, we examined the health benefits of mature silk worm larvae enriched with diverse functional materials. We found that Drosophila reared on food containing boiled and freeze-dried mature silk worm larval powder (BMSPF) showed a significantly increased healthspan with an extended lifespan compared to normal food (NF) flies. In addition, BMSPF flies showed a significantly increased resistance to rotenone induced Parkinson's disease symptoms compared with NF flies. The results from microarray gene profiling, quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), and odorant response assays suggested that BMSPF flies may have improved olfactory responses compared with NF flies. In addition, integrity of mitochondria was significantly enhanced in BMSPF flies. Taken together, our data suggest that BMSP can be used to extend healthspan and prevent onset and progression of PD symptoms induced in Drosophila. [Display omitted] •BMSP significantly increased life span and proportion of healthspan in Drosophila.•BMSP significantly increased fly's resistance to PD induced by rotenone.•BMSP significantly increased amount of intact mitochondria.•BMSP enhanced olfactory responses in Drosophila.•BMSP could be a candidate for caloric or dietary restriction mimetics.