A team of scientists in the Department of Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University has published a new study that indicates that a particular botanical extract can extend longevity in roundworms by improving their metabolic health.
Although the roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) may not appear to have much in common with humans, the investigation supports the results of previous work involving mice, which was conducted at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center under Professor Jacqueline Stephens.
“The reason this study made so much sense to do in worms is because worms live for only about three weeks, so in a month or two, we had definite results,” said Bhaswati Ghosh, LSU student and lead author of the recently published study.
Both the aforementioned study on mice and this one using the worms looked at how the consumption of Artemisia scoparia (a botanical extract also known as SCO) affected the laboratory organisms. Commonly known as wormwood, A. scoparia is an aromatic herb that is widely distributed across Asia.
Key Takeaways From This Study:
- They found that the worms fed the highest and second-highest doses of SCO extract showed immediate improvement in their metabolic health.
- The treated worms lived 40 percent longer than the untreated worms.
- The worms that received the extract also became healthier and more resistant to stress.
- The researchers found that SCO helped convert unhealthy fat stores into healthy fat stores in the worms’ bodies.
- The research indicates that the extract from Artemisia scoparia can activate many pro-longevity pathways in the body and effectively turn on multiple genes involved in regulating lifespan.
- The study authors conclude that the A. scoparia extract is a natural product that can modify fat regulation and benefit longevity by altering core metabolic parameters. They propose that natural products like this may provide a means to extend human lifespan and promote healthy aging.
You can read the complete study, which was published in the Feb. 15, 2022 issue of The Journals of Gerontology, by clicking on the link.