LAUSR

BACKGROUND Ferulic acid (FA) is a dietary polyphenol widely found in plant tissues. It has long been considered to have health-promoting qualities. However, the biological properties of dietary polyphenols depend largely on their absorption during digestion, and the effects of their intestinal metabolites on human health have attracted the interest of researchers. This study evaluated the effects of three main colonic metabolites 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (3,4diOHPPA), 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (3OHPPA) and 3-phenylpropionic acid (3PPA) of FA on longevity and stress resistance in C.elegans. RESULTS Our results showed that 3,4diOHPPA, 3OHPPA and 3PPA extended the lifespan in normal conditions of C.elegans while FA did not. The high-doses of 3,4diOHPPA (0.5 mM), 3OHPPA (2.5 mM) and 3PPA (2.5 mM) prolonged the mean lifespan by 11.2%, 13.0% and 10.6%, respectively. Moreover, 3,4diOHPPA, 3OHPPA and 3PPA treatments promoted stress tolerance against heat, UV irradiation and paraquat. Furthermore, three metabolites ameliorated the physical functions including ROS and MDA levels, motility and pharyngeal pumping rate. The anti-aging activities mediated by 3,4diOHPPA, 3OHPPA and 3PPA depend on the HSF-1 and JNK-1 linked insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway, which converge onto DAF-16. CONCLUSION The current findings suggest the colonic metabolites of FA have the potential to be used as anti-aging bioactivate compounds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.