Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Mangiferin in Promoting Health Span and Stress Tolerance in C. elegans

Background/Objectives Mangiferin is a natural compound with several known health benefits including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial to mention a few. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the anti-aging effect of this polyphenolic compound, particularly as it relates to health span and stress tolerance. Hence, our research was designed to explore the therapeutic potential of mangiferin, provide scientific credence for its influence on health span, and stress tolerance using C. elegans. Methods To achieve this, we investigated the effect of mangiferin on several known hallmarks of aging, which includes thermal stress, motility behavior and mRNA gene expression of stress-sensitive mutant strains, complimented with in-silico analysis of possible targets. Results Mangiferin treatment in nematodes reduced lipid droplet buildup, protein carbonyls, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to longer lifespans and better survival. The expression levels of hsp-16.2 and sod-3 were significantly increased, resulting in enhanced stress tolerance, as demonstrated by the improved motility function in both wild-type N2 and aak2 mutant strains. In addition, mangiferin exhibited strong binding affinities with the docked protein targets. Conclusions Overall, mangiferin undisputedly exhibited profound beneficial effects on health span and stress resistance parameters, promoting this compound as a high-potential geroprotective therapeutic.