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Abstract

Aging and age-related diseases have an ever-increasing potential economic impact on the prosperity of nations. It is associated with an accumulation of damaged/discarded proteins in cells which correlates with a decline in normal physiological function of organism. The free radical theory of aging suggests reaction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as the proximal cause of ageing. ROS is normally generated during metabolism and results in a declined cellular homeostasis. ROS contributed ageing can be slowed or modulated either through reduced ROS production, endogenous antioxidant genes or by increased repair mechanism. Indeed, genetic mutations and manipulations that confer resistance to oxidative stress also cause extended life-span; however, dietary restriction and dietary antioxidant supplements have been shown to have effects on ageing. Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the promising and experimentally proven models for ageing research worldwide. The adult C. elegans worm is self-fertilizing hermaphrodite with a 3-day life cycle, and a mean life span of approximately 18?20 days when cultured at 20oC. Importantly, more than 70% C. elegans genes have human homologues and the loss of function of the equivalent genes has also been shown to extend the lifespan of mammals. This suggests that mechanisms found to influence ageing in C. elegans are likely to have a conserved role in regulating longevity in humans. Besides its short lifespan, the ease of genetic and dietary manipulations has also led C. elegans to become established at the forefront of ageing studies. Large numbers of phytomolecules have proven their antiaging activity in C. elegans will be highlighted in the present lecture.

Biography

Rakesh Pandey has completed his Ph.D at the age of 28 years from Kanpur University, Kanpur, India and postdoctoral studies from Institute of Plant Disease, University of Bonn, Germany. He is the Senior Scientist, in CSIR - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow unique organization in field of medicinal and aromatic plants research. Dr. Pandey has published 80 research papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member of important international journals of repute.