Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 19 pp 19785—19808

Cowpea extract extends D. melanogaster lifespan. (A) Survivorship of adult female D. melanogaster. Flies were supplemented with 0.2% and 0.5% bean extract lifelong. (B) Body weights of D. melanogaster supplemented with 0.2% bean extract. Flies were supplemented with 0.2% bean extract for 30 or 45 days. (C–F) Expression of genes related to longevity and oxidative stress. Flies were supplemented with 0.2% cowpea extract for 30 or 45 days. Total RNA was isolated and the mRNA levels of HO (C), SIRT1 (D), NOTCH (E), FOXO (F) were quantified using RT-PCR. (G) Western analysis using anti-FoxO and anti-Sirt1 antibodies on proteins extracts from flies supplemented with 0.2% cowpea extract for 30 or 45 days. (H–I) Densitometric analysis of FoxO and Sirt1 proteins. *p<0.05 with respect to the corresponding controls.