Geroprotective activity of trans-cinnamic acid isolated from the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)

Abstract

Trans-cinnamic acid is a phenolic compound with a wide range of bioactive properties, including antioxidant and antibacterial effects. It also has high potential in the food and cosmetic industries. We aimed to isolate trans-cinnamic acid from the Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and study its geroprotective activity on Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes used as a model organism. Our study objects included the S. baicalensis root culture and its extract, trans-cinnamic acid isolated from the extract, and C. elegans nematodes. Trans-cinnamic acid was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The acid's geroprotective activity was studied by evaluating its effect at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 µmol/L on the lifespan, stress resistance, and reproductivity of C. elegans. For the lifespan study, the nematodes were cultivated at 20°С for 61 days. To assess their resistance to oxidative stress, 15 µL of 1M paraquat was added to each well of the plate. Thermal stress resistance was determined by raising the temperature to 33°С. For the reproductivity study, the nematodes were cultivated in the S-medium with the addition of Escherichia coli OP50 and trans-cinnamic acid at required concentrations for 72 h. The maximum increase in lifespan (9.8%) was observed in the nematodes treated with 50 µmol/L of trans-cinnamic acid. Under oxidative stress, all the concentrations of trans-cinnamic acid increased the survival of nematodes, while under thermal stress, trans-cinnamic acid reduced the percentage of surviving nematodes. At a concentration of 100 µmol/L, trans-cinnamic acid increased the nematodes' reproduction by 1.48 times. Based on our data, trans-cinnamic acid isolated from S. baicalensis can be recommended as a bioactive compound with geroprotective activity. However, further research is needed on other model organisms with detailed toxicity studies.