Population aging is a global problem worldwide, and the discovery of antiaging drugs and knowledge of their potential molecular mechanisms are research hotspots in biomedical field. Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) is a natural component isolated from Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.). It has been widely used to treat various chronic diseases for its remarkable biological activities. In this study, we successfully established aging larval zebrafish by exposing larvae to 2 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Using this aging model, we assessed the antiaging effect of TSG with different concentrations (25-100 μg/mL). After being treated with H2O2, zebrafish showed the obvious aging-associated phenotypes characterized by higher senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, significantly downregulated expression of sirtuin 1 (sirt1) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (tert), and upregulated serpine1 mRNA level compared to the control group. TSG pretreatment delayed the aging process of oxidative stress-induced zebrafish, indicative of the reduced positive rate of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, improved swimming velocity, and stimulus-response capacity. Further studies proved that TSG could suppress reactive oxygen species production and enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. TSG also inhibited the H2O2-induced expressions of inflammation-related genes il-1β, il-6, cxcl-c1c, and il-8 in aging zebrafish, but it did not affect apoptosis-related genes (bcl-2, bax, and caspase-3) of aging zebrafish. In conclusion, TSG can protect against aging by regulating the antioxidative genes and enzyme activity, as well as inflammation in larval zebrafish, providing insight into the application of TSG for clinical treatment of aging or aging-related diseases.
Keywords: aging; inflammation; oxidative stress; tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG); zebrafish.