Antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress, and physiological aging markers in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae): a systematic review with translational perspectives

TL;DR

This paper reviews how oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes affect aging in fruit flies, with implications for human health.

Contribution

A systematic review of recent studies on oxidative stress and aging in Drosophila, highlighting conserved mechanisms relevant to humans.

Findings

Excessive ROS production leads to oxidative stress and lipid damage in older Drosophila.

Superoxide dismutase and catalase are key markers of oxidative homeostasis in aging studies.

Lifespan and locomotor activity are primary physiological aging indicators in Drosophila.

Abstract

Oxidative stress contributes to cellular damage and aging. In this study, the model organism Drosophila melanogaster Meigen 1830 was used to examine the molecular and physiological mechanisms of aging associated with oxidative stress. A systematic search and detailed analysis of scientific publications on this topic were conducted using the PubMed database. The analysis included 30 original research articles published between April 2020 and April 2025. Studies focusing primarily on upstream signaling pathways or other stress mechanisms without direct measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzymes, or physiological aging markers were excluded. For each article, key elements were extracted, including the research topic, assessed ROS and antioxidant enzyme markers, physiological aging indicators, main experimental findings, and study conclusions. The results were classified using a descriptive frequency-based analysis of reported ROS and aging markers, as well as by the main topic and research approach of each study. Collectively, the reviewed studies indicate that excessive ROS production leads to oxidative stress and lipid damage, particularly in older individuals. The enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were the most commonly assessed markers and served as primary indicators of oxidative homeostasis. Lifespan and locomotor activity were identified as the main physiological aging parameters, while natural extracts and phytonutrients were the most frequently used intervention agents. These findings confirm the value of D. melanogaster as a model for aging research and support its use in identifying conserved redox mechanisms and evaluating potential interventions with translational relevance for human health.

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