# Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana Modulates Stress Response and Mitochondrial Quality Under Glucose Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans

## TL;DR

This study explores how a plant extract from Echinophora tenuifolia improves metabolic and mitochondrial health in worms under glucose stress.

## Contribution

The study identifies the plant's phytochemical profile and demonstrates its novel effects on stress response and mitochondrial function in C. elegans.

## Key findings

- The extract contains rutin and other phenolic compounds that enhance early-life activity and stress resistance in C. elegans.
- It reduces lipid accumulation and restores mitochondrial function in a glucose-induced obesity model.
- The extract suppresses stress-related chaperone expression, indicating a role in mitigating endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress.

## Abstract

Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana (E. tenuifolia), Apiaceae, is a traditional medicinal and culinary plant, yet its phytochemical composition and biological activity have not been fully investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical profile of E. tenuifolia aerial parts extract and to assess its effects on healthspan and metabolic regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The characterization of the extract by NMR spectroscopy and HPLC-PDA revealed the presence of secondary metabolites, with rutin being the most abundant phenolic compound identified in the extract, alongside the presence of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and salicylic acid. The extract supplementation enhanced early-life locomotor activity and chemosensory behavior without affecting the lifespan. It also significantly improved thermotolerance and resistance to oxidative stress in C. elegans. Additionally, in a glucose-induced obesity model, the extract reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels and restored glucose-impaired mitochondrial membrane potential. The extract dose-dependently alleviated glucose-induced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress by suppressing the expression of both essential chaperones: endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP homolog hsp-4 and heat shock protein hsp-6. These findings indicate that E. tenuifolia extract possesses potential beneficial effects on metabolic and mitochondrial health under glucose-induced stress conditions. These observations are likely mediated by the synergistic phenolic composition of the extract, and reveal E. tenuifolia as a promising source of bioactive compounds relevant to aging and preventive strategies for cardiometabolic health.