Objective: To explore the effects of Herba Scutellariae Barbatae flavonoids (HF) in delaying aging of Caenorhabditis elegans and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.
Methods: The effects of 30 or 50 mg/L of HF on nematode life span, reproductive capacity, oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzyme activity of C. elegans were assessed, and the effects of HF on the expressions of the genes encoding antioxidant enzymes and the aging-related genes were analyzed using real-time RT-PCR in both C. elegans and cultured HUVECs. Results Compared with the blank control group, C. elegans with HF treatment showed significantly improved mean and maximum lifespan with a prolonged mean lifespan under acute heat stress at 35 degrees celsius;. HF treatment did not impair the reproductive capacity or cause significant changes in the offspring number of C. elegans. In addition, HF enhanced SOD and CAT activity and up-regulated the expression of daf-16 and sir-2.1 (SIRT1) genes in C. elegans and HUVECs.
Conclusions: HF may delay aging of C. elegans and enhance their resistance to acute heat stress without damaging their reproductive capacity possibly by up-regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes and expressions of antioxidant genes. HF also may protect endothelial cells against oxidative damage.
目的: 研究半枝莲总黄酮（HF）对延缓秀丽隐杆线虫和人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）衰老的影响，并探讨可能的作用机制。
方法: 将不同浓度的HF（30、50 mg/L）分别放于NGM和DMEM培养基中，研究对线虫的寿命、生殖能力、氧化应激、抗氧化酶活力、相关基因表达以及对HUVECs的抗氧化酶活力和相关基因表达的影响。
结果: HF能显著延长线虫的平均寿命和最大寿命，对其生殖能力没有损害，子代数目无统计学差异，35 ℃急性热应激下的平均生存时间显著延长；同时，HF均能提高秀丽线虫和人HUVECs中超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶的活性，并上调两种细胞中抗衰老基因daf-16、sir-2.1的表达。
结论: HF可能通过提高抗氧化酶活力和抗氧化基因的表达水平，能够延缓线虫衰老及急性热应激下的应激能力同时不损害生殖能力，并保护内皮细胞免受损伤。