ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1680518
This article is part of the Research TopicPhytochemicals: Molecular Mechanisms for Anti-Aging and Aging-Related DiseasesView all articles
Phytochemical-rich Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract extends healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans via the pmk-1/p38 MAPK pathway and mitochondrial homeostasis
Provisionally accepted
- 1Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
- 2Gansu Provinical Academic Institute for Medical Research, Lanzhou, China
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Objectives: As a medicinal and edible resource, Eucommia ulmoides leaf(EUL) shows considerable promise in facilitating healthy aging. However, its precise biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-aging efficacy and underlying pathways of Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract(EULE) using the Caenorhabditis elegans(C. elegans) model. Methods: Phytochemical profiling of the extract was performed. C. elegans were supplemented with the extract, and the effects on lifespan, healthspan indicators (muscle deterioration, intestinal barrier function, mitochondrial homeostasis), and gene expression were evaluated via transcriptomic analysis. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that the extract is abundant in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, iridoids, and lignans. Supplementation with the extract significantly prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans by up to 14.69% and improved healthspan by alleviating age-related muscle deterioration, preserving intestinal barrier function, and regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. Transcriptomic analysis identified the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway as the primary mediator of these anti-aging benefits. Conclusions: These results provide robust evidence supporting the use of EUL as a natural dietary supplement to prolong healthspan, establishing a scientific rationale for its application in promoting healthy aging.
Keywords: Eucommia ulmoides leaf1, Caenorhabditis elegans2, healthspan3, mitochondrion4, MAPK5
Received: 06 Aug 2025; Accepted: 29 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Ma, Li, Xie and Shi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xingwen Xie, 827975272@qq.com
Xiaofeng Shi, shixiaofeng2005@163.com
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