The lifespan-promoting effect of acetic acid and Reishi polysaccharide Original Research Article

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, various natural substances and commercial health-food supplements were screened to evaluate their effects on longevity. Among the substances tested, acetic acid and Reishi polysaccharide fraction 3 (RF3) were shown to increase the expression of the lifespan and longevity-related transcription factor DAF-16 in C. elegans. We have shown that RF3 activates DAF-16 expression via TIR-1 receptor and MAPK pathway whereas acetic acid inhibits the trans-membrane receptor DAF-2 of the insulin/IGF-1 pathway to indirectly activate DAF-16 expression. In addition, a mixture of acetic acid and RF3 possesses a combined effect 30–40% greater than either substance used alone. A proteomic analysis of C. elegans using 2-DE and LC–MS/MS was then carried out, and 15 differentially expressed proteins involved in the lifespan-promoting activity were identified.