26'th update of fly longevity experiments

From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Thu Dec 23 1999 - 20:51:13 MST


   This is the 26'th update of my fly longevity experiments. Run #21
 investigated the effect of various supplements on alcohol induced
 mortality. The source of alcohol was a white wine, including 12.5%
 alcohol. I also included a second control bottle which used water in
 place of the wine. As can be seen, the wine proved to be very toxic,
 indeed rather more so that I had been led to expect.
   In both the day 4, and day 6 census the grape seed proanthocyanidin
 extract leucoselect once again led the pack, but the results were much
 more modest than when this supplement was tested against glycerol induced
 toxicity. Possibly a higher dosage might be more effective. Alas,
 proanthocyanidins are known to be unstable in solution, so one can not
 expect long lasting protection, as the fly food is never changed once the
 experiment has begun.
   Of the other supplements, resveratrol, also from grapes proved to be a
 dud. Artichoke extract (standardized to 5% cynarin) provided some
 protection, which was apparently longer lasting than that exerted by
 leucoselect.

 RUN #21 Percent Survival on Day
                       4 6 11 15 19 33 40 46 53 66 72
 _____________________________________________________
 control 95 95 95 75 60 45 35 25 20 5 5
 wine control 25 25 13 0 - - - - - - -
  +artichoke 250 mg 50 25 25 13 13 0 - - - - -
  +green tea 150 mg 38 25 0 - - - - - - - -
  +leucoselect 100 mg 58 39 21 0 - - - - - - -
  +resveratrol 100 mg 28 22 17 6 6 0 - - - - -

   A higher dosage of leucoselect needs to be tested. However for the next
 experiment I decided (2 months ago) to test the effect of various
 supplements on age associated mortality of flies, without any toxins such
 as alcohol added. In addition to leucoselect, I am also testing other
 proanthocyanidin sources such as blueberry, and prune juices. I will also
 be retesting the spice sage, which in earlier experiments was proven to
 increase survival. Ever since finding that citric acid is effective at
 suppressing pathogen growth, without toxicity, I had been wondering if
 the longevity promoting effect of sage is due solely to an antipathogen
 effect.



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