Clerodendranthus spicatus (Thunb.) Water Extracts Reduce Lipid Accumulation and Oxidative Stress in the Caenorhabditis elegans

<i>Clerodendranthus spicatus</i> (Thunb.) (Kidney tea) is a very distinctive ethnic herbal medicine in China. Its leaves are widely used as a healthy tea. Many previous studies have demonstrated its various longevity-promoting effects; however, the safety and specific health-promoting effects of <i>Clerodendranthus spicatus</i> (<i>C. spicatus</i>) as a dietary supplement remain unclear. In order to understand the effect of <i>C. spicatus</i> on the longevity of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (<i>C. elegans</i>), we evaluated its role in <i>C. elegans</i>; <i>C. spicatus</i> water extracts (CSw) were analyzed for the major components and the effects on <i>C. elegans</i> were investigated from physiological and biochemical to molecular levels; CSw contain significant phenolic components (primarily rosmarinic acid and eugenolinic acid) and flavonoids (primarily quercetin and isorhamnetin) and can increase the lifespan of <i>C. elegans</i>. Further investigations showed that CSw modulate stress resistance and lipid metabolism through influencing DAF-16/FoxO (DAF-16), Heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1), and Nuclear Hormone Receptor-49 (NHR-49) signalling pathways; CSw can improve the antioxidant and hypolipidemic activity of <i>C. elegans</i> and prolong the lifespan of <i>C. elegans</i> (with the best effect at low concentrations). Therefore, the recommended daily use of <i>C. spicatus</i> should be considered when consuming it as a healthy tea on a daily basis.