Chebulinic acid and Boeravinone B act as anti-aging and anti-apoptosis phyto-molecules during oxidative stress

Abstract Introduction Aquatic pollutant Malachite green (MG) induces oxidative stress by producing intracellular H 2 O 2 and associated hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or hydroperoxide radicals in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . These radicals disturb cellular functions leading to early aging. Exogenous supply of natural antioxidants may play a crucial role as anti-aging by ensuring the cellular survival. Methods Protective effect of Chebulinic acid (CA) and Boeravinone B (BB) was biochemically evaluated by measuring the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes. Intracellular oxidants generation, nuclear damage, necrosis, apoptosis, reduction in caspase 3/7 activity studied microscopically, spectrofluorometrically and biochemically along with growth dynamics and relative quantitation of Yap1, Sir2 and Bir1 expression using RT-PCR. Results Malachite green (MG) showed adverse effect on S. cerevisiae showing 400.83% enhancement in accumulation of intracellular H 2 O 2 and associated hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or hydroperoxide radicals. Independent supplementation of CA (5 μg/ml) and BB (3 μg/ml) significantly reduced the accumulation by 385.78 and 372.68%, respectively. Presence of MG extended the lag phase of growth curve and also reduced colony forming units (CFUs)/ml to 3 × 10 8 from 15 × 10 8 . Whereas, CA and BB maintained the normal growth curve, CFUs and proved as anti-aging. Elevation in the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) by 241.35, 539.02 and 432.60% was observed after 2 h MG exposure. However, CA and BB significantly reduced the CAT, SOD and GPx activities. Microscopic observation of CA and BB augmented cells revealed protection from H 2 O 2 and associated hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or hydroperoxide radicals accumulation, nuclear disorganization, morphological distortion, apoptosis and necrosis contrary to MG exposed cells. An enhancement of 112.78% in caspase 3/7 activity was noted in MG exposed cells over control. Both CA and BB supplementation reduced the caspase 3/7 activity by 106.06 and 105.82%, respectively which was almost near normal. MG was found to induce the expression of yeast transcription factor Yap1 ; while presence of CA and BB restored expression of Yap1 . Expression of longevity responsible gene Silent Information Regulator ( Sir2 ) was also found to be reduced during MG exposure. However, CA and BB triggered the expression of Sir2 . Similarly, MG lowered the expression of Baculoviral IAP repeat ( Bir1 ) which is the inhibitor of apoptosis while CA and BB aided the over expression of Bir1 . Conclusions CA and BB supplementation could significantly decrease oxidative stress, enhance cell viability and ultimately protected S. cerevisiae cells form aging.