Antioxidant and Longevity-Related Properties of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of <i>Cnidium officinale</i> Makino in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced from energy metabolism and may cause diseases or cell death. Antioxidation refers to the suppression of ROS production and is considered beneficial in preventing diseases. This study aimed to examine the antioxidative effects of <i>Cnidium officinale</i> Makino (COM) extracts and fractions using <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> as an experimental model. The COM ethanol extract was fractionated according to polarity. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of COM showed powerful radical scavenging activities and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in <i>C. elegans</i> in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction reduced the ROS production rate in <i>C. elegans</i> and increased the cell survival rate, suggesting oxidative and thermal stress resistance. In addition, the SOD-3::green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression level in the transformed cells of <i>C. elegans</i> (CF1553) increased, suggesting oxidative stress resistance. Similarly, the HSP-16.2::GFP expression level increased, suggesting thermal stress resistance. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of COM demonstrated the strongest antioxidative effects, indicating that it may help extend longevity.