Transcriptomic insights into the healthspan-enhancing effects of C. chinensis seed and E. ulmoides bark extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract

Healthspan, the disease-free period of life, has become a central focus in aging research. Cuscuta chinensis seed and Eucommia ulmoides bark extracts, two traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remedies, have shown promising healthspan-extending effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, RNA-seq analysis of aged worms treated with these extracts revealed significant transcriptomic alterations. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses indicated upregulation of genes involved in immune defense, lysosomal function, and protein homeostasis, which may underlie the shared phenotype of enhanced stress resistance and lifespan extension. Beyond these effects, C. chinensis further improved multiple health parameters. Consistent with its broad spectrum of phenotypes, C. chinensis induced extensive transcriptomic remodeling involving over 3000 differentially expressed genes. Modulating collagen-, unc-, and muscle-related genes may explain improved locomotion, while upregulation of mec genes could contribute to enhanced mechanosensation. Notably, far-3, encoding a fatty acid- and retinol-binding protein, was upregulated more than 150-fold, and RNA interference assays demonstrated that FAR-3 is necessary for C. chinensis-induced healthspan improvement. Furthermore, C. chinensis influenced genes linked to antagonistic pleiotropy and insulin-like signaling, suggesting a systemic, hormesis-driven reprogramming of aging processes. Together, these findings uncover both shared and distinct molecular mechanisms through which C. chinensis and E. ulmoides promote healthspan in C. elegans.