抄録
To investigate functionally activity of food components, we used Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism and
prepared the chemically defined (CD) medium for cultivation. We evaluated the effects of flavonoids such as quercetin, rutin,and
catechin which are known as anti-oxidant compounds, and α-tocophrol by their growth stimulation potency. The results indicated
that the magnitude of growth stimulation potencies were quercetin > cathechin > rutin >α-tocopherol. This order did not coincident
the order of DPPH radical scavenging activity. Moreover, α-tocopherol did not show the growth stimulation at low concentration
and affected an adverse effect on C. elegans growth at high concentration. The gene expression analyses by DNA microarray
indicated that 141 and 10 genes were changed expression levels significantly by 0.1 mM quercetin and rutin, respectively. All of the
rutin responsive genes were included in quercetin responsive ones. Therefore gene expression levels were reflected their C. elegans
growth stimulation potencies. dod-6, which were regulated by DAF-16 was up-regulated by both flavonoids. These results suggest
flavonoids may act as an antioxidant as well as modulator of DAF signaling processes to exert its growth stimulating properties.
Our findings indicate that C. elegans growth cultured by chemical defined synthetic medium is a useful endpoint for function and
safety analyses of food ingredients.
