Abstract
INTRODUCTION: White tea is known for its health benefits, especially its strong antioxidant activity. METHODS: Based on previous studies showing white tea extract (WTE) has antioxidant effects in vitro, this research further evaluated its potential to delay aging in Drosophila melanogaster. RESULTS: The results showed that dietary supplementation with WTE significantly (p < 0.05) increased both the mean lifespan (T(m)) and longest survival time (T(max)) of Drosophila melanogaster. T(m) levels rose by 15.41% in males and 30.39% in females at 3 mg/mL concentration, while the T(max) showed increases of 21.05 and 32.27%, respectively. WTE also improved the flies' climbing ability and their resistance to hydrogen peroxide-induced stress. It markedly (p < 0.05) decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations while enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT), in a dose-responsive manner. Gene expression analysis indicated that WTE significantly upregulated the antioxidant-related genes SOD1, SOD2, and CAT, while suppressing the expression of the aging-related MTH gene. DISCUSSION: Overall, WTE helps delay aging in fruit flies by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative damage. These results suggest its potential use as a natural antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient in food and health products.