Ethanol Extract of the Phaeophyta Hizikia Fusiformis Extends Life Span of Caenorhabditis Elegans

Abstract

Various studies reported that seaweeds have many benefits for human health, according to in vitro studies. It proved that seaweeds contained bioactive compounds such as antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory agents. Caenorhabditis elegans has been used as a model organism for many studies regarding to the genetic expression, nervous system, aging mechanism and also in vivo studies for bioactive compounds such as antioxidant. In this study we investigated the life span of C. elegans (N2 wild-type strain) after exposing in seaweed extracts. According to the screening result, among the thirteen seaweed extracts, the ethanol extract of the phaeophyta Hizikia fusiformis showed the highest result based on hatching rate, relative growth rate and the life span of C. elegans (p<0.05). The average of relative survival rate was higher in ethanol extract compare to the tween 80 and distilled water controls. In addition, based on the GC-MS result the ethanol extract contained several compounds including fucosterol as a main active compounds.