The mechanism of anti-aging of fermented jujube (Zizyphus jujuba fruits (ZJF)) was investigated using transgenic daf-16 and mev-1 strains of C. elegans. Jujube extracts fermented for 7 days (F7-ZJF) and 14 days (F14-ZJF) with Laetiporus sulphureus were treated to a NGM agar plate with 10-15 transgenic daf-16 and mev-1 strains of the synchronized age. There was no difference of lifespan between the drug-treated group (7-day fermented ex. (F7-zjf-200 ㎍ /mL), 14-day fermented ex. (F14-zjf-200 ㎍/mL)) and the non-treatment group in both daf-16 and mev-1 strains. In the thermal stress experiment, F7-zjf-200 ㎍/mL showed a significant (t = 4.017) activity in thermal stress resistance with a 12% higher survival rate than the control group. In the survival test in H2O2, F7-zjf-200 ㎍/mL and F14-zjf-100 ㎍/mL have significant activity in oxidative stress resistance compared to the control group. This study indicates that life span expand of N2 strain of the jujube extract is related to the regulation of daf-16 and inhibition of mev-1 signal in C. elegans.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has been known for having strong anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic activities. The free radical theory of aging, also known as the oxidative stress theory of aging, claims that cellular oxidative damage accumulated with time is a major causal factor of aging. In the present study, we investigated the effect of buckwheat extracts on resistance to oxidative stress and aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Survival under an oxidative-stress condition induced by paraquat increased markedly following 500mg/L buckwheat extracts treatment, suggesting lower cellular oxidative damage by buckwheat extracts. A lifespan assay also revealed that treatment of buckwheat extracts significantly extended both the mean and maximum lifespan in C. elegans. Interestingly, this lifespan-extension by buckwheat extracts was not accompanied by reduced fertility. These findings suggest that buckwheat extracts can confer longevity phenotype to C. elegans through its strong anti-oxidant activity and support the aging theory which emphasizes a pivotal role of oxidative stress during aging.