Synthesizing UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS analysis, network pharmacology, and in vivo experimental to screen candidate components and targets of Rosa roxburghii Tratt seed for anti-aging

Abstract

Aging is a degenerative process, and while Rosa roxburghii Tratt has demonstrated notable anti-aging and antioxidant properties, the precise anti-aging effects of its seeds are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to employ a blend of in "dry" and "wet" approaches to investigate the anti-aging activity and underlying mechanisms of the polyphenol-rich extract from these seeds, Rosa roxburghii Tratt seed polyphenol extract (RRTSPE). UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS was employed to identify the chemical constituents of RRTSPE, resulting in the identification of 33 chemical components. Subsequent in vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated RRTSPE's moderate antioxidant capacity, and in vivo evaluations using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) confirmed its ability to extend lifespan, reduce lipofuscin accumulation, and enhance resistance to oxidative and heat stress. Network pharmacology analysis suggests that RRTSPE's anti-aging effects may involve key proteins linked to metabolic and inflammatory diseases. The predictions regarding the anti-aging effects of RRTSPE were further substantiated using mutant C. elegans strains (DR26, VC475, TJ1052, and CB1370), which confirmed the engagement of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway in RRTSPE's anti-aging effects. RRTSPE demonstrates its anti-aging effects in C. elegans through a multifaceted approach, which includes scavenging free radicals, diminishing reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhancing DAF-16 nuclear translocation, and modulating IIS pathway-related proteins like SOD-3 and HSP-16.2. It is the synergistic effect of these actions that underpins the broad-spectrum anti-aging potential of RRTSPE. Taken together, this study not only provides a scientific foundation for the utilization of Rosa roxburghii Tratt seeds as a natural anti-aging agent but also paves the way for further research and development in leveraging their potential health benefits.

Keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; Rosa roxburghii Tratt seed; Anti-aging; IIS pathway.