Lifespan-extending Effects of Ikarisoside A from Epimedium koreanum in Caenorhabditis elegans

This experiment was conducted to find anti-aging compounds using nematodes from natural products. After sep-arating the ikarisoside A from Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Berberidaceae), an anti-aging experiment was followed using a Caenorhabditis elegans model. The nematodes treated with ikarisoside A showed lifespan extension effect under general culture conditions. In addition, ikarisoside A increased the survival rate of C. elegans in stressful environments such as heat and osmotic conditions. To study the expression level of HSP-16.2, we used a transgenic strain including CL2070, and ikarisoside A-treated worms had a higher HSP-16.2::GFP intensity compared to untreated CL2070 worms. Nematodes fed the ikarisoside A showed reduced lipofuscin accumulation compared to control worms. Furthermore, there were no significant changes due to ikarisoside A in aging-related factors such as food intake, exercise, reproduction, and growth, indicating that ikarisoside A induces longevity activities without affecting these factors. These results indicate that ikarisoside A can affect longevity of C. elegans under both normal and stress conditions through the expression of stress-resistant proteins.