Effect of Rheum officinale on activity of intestinal stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster induced by SDS toxicity / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the effect of Rheum officinale extracts (ROE) on activity of intestinal stem cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Methods: The control group was fed with normal cornmeal-yeast medium, and the experimental group was fed with cornmeal-yeast medium containing 0.05 or 0.1 g/mL ROE. In the experiment, the gut damage was induced by feeding D. melanogaster with toxic compounds. The effects of ROE on survival rate, number and morphology of progenitor cells, proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells, expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), number of intestinal epithelial dead cells and life span of D. melanogaster were detected and analyzed. Results: ROE (0.05 and 0.1 g/mL) could increase the survival rate of D. melanogaster induced by toxic compounds. ROE (0.1 g/mL) could decrease SDS-induced ROS levels, reduce the number of intestinal epithelial dead cells, inhibit excessive proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cell, alleviate the excessive accumulation of progenitor cells, thereby maintain homeostasis in the gut. In addition, ROE could prolong the lifespan of D. melanogaster. Conclusion: ROE can inhibit excessive proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells, enhance gut immune function, and prolong the life span of D. melanogaster.