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Petunidin-3-glucoside (P3G), an anthocyanin prevalent in vegetables, fruits, and wine, possesses noteworthy antioxidant properties attributed to its capacity to scavenge free radicals. This property has sparked interest in the potential for anthocyanins to confer benefits on longevity and age-related motor dysfunctions. In this study, the impact of petunidin-3-glucoside (P3G) on the lifespan and motor function in Drosophila melanogaster was examined, both in the presence and absence of neurotoxic substances, such as glyphosate or ethanol. Varying concentrations of P3G were incorporated into the flies' diet immediately after hatching. Subsequently, distinct sets of flies were subjected to diverse conditions, including a stress-free environment, ethanol exposure, and glyphosate exposure. The survival rate of the flies was monitored daily, and their motor function was assessed using a negative geotaxis assay on days 1, 5, 10, and 15 post-eclosion. Only male flies exhibited an extended lifespan under normal and ethanol-exposed conditions. While P3G did not induce significant alterations in overall motor function for male and female flies across various conditions, intriguing variations were observed at different time points. In female flies, low concentrations of P3G seemed to exacerbate motor function decline during mid to late adulthood, particularly in the presence of glyphosate. Conversely, middle P3G concentration improved motor function in male flies during early to mid-adulthood, a trend consistent regardless of neurotoxic exposures. Taken together, the findings underscore the potential sex-specific effects of P3G on both lifespan and motor function, with observed benefits predominantly applicable to male flies. Nonetheless, while suggestive, a more in-depth investigation is imperative to comprehensively determine whether the advantageous impact of P3G on motor function is exclusive to the early to mid-adult stage. As such, this study presents a foundation that warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins have long been established for their benefits to various organisms, ranging from lifespan extension and healthspan improvement in animal models to enhanced immunity and organ function in humans. In Asia, staple food, such as potatoes and rice, contains peonidin, a flavylium-bearing anthocyanin. However, its benefits have only been demonstrated in crude or partially purified extracts, with scarce data on its purified form. In this study, peonidin-3-glucoside (P3G) was tested for antioxidant properties and was administered to Caenorhabditis elegans under various forms of stresses (ultraviolet, heat, and oxidative stress). P3G showed free radical scavenging activity with an EC50 6.9-fold higher than that of ascorbic acid but was twofold lower than that of CoQ10 (150 µg/ml). Using its sublethal concentration (50 µg/ml), P3G extended the lifespan of C. elegans by 14% greater than that of vehicle (dH2O) but comparable with CoQ10 (16%). In addition, 50 µg/ml P3G increased the pharyngeal pumping rate of C. elegans by 8.3%, which is an indicator of healthspan improvement. When compared with dH2O under ultraviolet (UVA), heat (30 °C), and H2O2 (100 µm) stressors, P3G continued to increase the lifespan of C. elegans by 23%, 25%, and 47%, respectively; which CoQ10 was not able to achieve except under H2O2 stress. Meanwhile, egg-laying ability-which is another indicator of healthspan-did not improve with either P3G or CoQ10. Taken together, P3G enhanced the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans in the presence of UV, heat, and oxidative stresses, with mechanisms possibly diverging from its antioxidant activity that warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]