Curcuma longa L. Prevents the Loss of β-Tubulin in the Brain and Maintains Healthy Aging in Drosophila melanogaster.

Md Mashiar Rahman, Md Abdullah Al Noman, Md Walid Hossain, Rahat Alam, Selena Akter, Md Masnoon Kabir, Mohammad Jashim Uddin, Md Ziaul Amin, H M Syfuddin, Shahina Akhter, Tomasz M Karpiński

Molecular neurobiology 2022 Mar

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Loss of tubulin is associated with neurodegeneration and brain aging. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) has frequently been employed as a spice in curry and traditional medications in the Indian subcontinent to attain longevity and better cognitive performance. We aimed to evaluate the unelucidated mechanism of how turmeric protects the brain to be an anti-aging agent. D. melanogaster was cultured on a regular diet and turmeric-supplemented diet. β-tubulin level and physiological traits including survivability, locomotor activity, fertility, tolerance to oxidative stress, and eye health were analyzed. Turmeric showed a hormetic effect, and 0.5% turmeric was the optimal dose in preventing aging. β-tubulin protein level was decreased in the brain of D. melanogaster upon aging, while a 0.5% turmeric-supplemented diet predominantly prevented this aging-induced loss of β-tubulin and degeneration of physiological traits as well as improved β-tubulin synthesis in the brain of D. melanogaster early to mid-age. The higher concentration (≥ 1%) of turmeric-supplemented diet decreased the β-tubulin level and degenerated many of the physiological traits of D. melanogaster. The turmeric concentration-dependent increase and decrease of β-tubulin level were consistent with the increment and decrement data obtained from the evaluated physiological traits. This correlation demonstrated that turmeric targets β-tubulin and has both beneficial and detrimental effects that depend on the concentration of turmeric. The findings of this study concluded that an optimal dosage of turmeric could maintain a healthy neuron and thus healthy aging, by preventing the loss and increasing the level of β-tubulin in the brain. © 2022. The Author(s).

Citation

Md Mashiar Rahman, Md Abdullah Al Noman, Md Walid Hossain, Rahat Alam, Selena Akter, Md Masnoon Kabir, Mohammad Jashim Uddin, Md Ziaul Amin, H M Syfuddin, Shahina Akhter, Tomasz M Karpiński. Curcuma longa L. Prevents the Loss of β-Tubulin in the Brain and Maintains Healthy Aging in Drosophila melanogaster. Molecular neurobiology. 2022 Mar;59(3):1819-1835