Black goji berry anthocyanins extend lifespan and enhance the antioxidant defenses in Caenorhabditis elegans via the JNK‐1 and DAF‐16/FOXO pathways

Abstract BACKGROUND The black goji berry ( Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) is known for its abundance of high‐quality natural antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. Black goji berry anthocyanins (BGA) are receiving increasing attention because of their high safety and beneficial biological activities. Studies have shown that oxidative stress is a key factor affecting aging, whereas antioxidants are critical preventive and delaying strategies. RESULTS In the present study, we investigated the potential anti‐aging effects and mechanism of BGA using the Caenorhabditis elegans model. We found that BGA prolonged the mean lifespan of nematodes and improve their healthspan, including locomotion, pharyngeal pumping rate and stress resistance. Subsequently, we observed a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in nematodes after administering BGA. Moreover, BGA enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, and elevated the glutathione disulfide/glutathione ratio. We confirmed that BGA exerted excellent antioxidative stress activity in nematodes, which may contribute substantially to its anti‐aging effects. The health benefits of BGA in C. elegans might be closely related to petunidin‐3‐ O ‐glucoside, the most abundant anthocyanin in BGA. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that the JNK‐1 and DAF‐16/FOXO pathways, rather than the calorie restriction pathway, were responsible for the antioxidant stress and life‐prolonging effects of BGA in nematodes. CONCLUSION Our research provides a theoretical foundation for studying the anti‐aging effect of BGA and a basis for developing black goji berry and its anthocyanins as functional foods with anti‐aging and antioxidative stress benefits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.